Althorp Literary Festival 2010
What is it all about? Youll be listening to talks in the exquisite surroundings of the 500-year-old family home of the Spencers while sampling estate game and local delicacies.
Althorp has been home to the Spencer family for 500 years and the introduction of a Festival of Literature is entirely in keeping with the history and heritage of the house. George John, Second Earl Spencer built up a library which was one of the finest private collections of books in Europe. Although not simply a classical collection, it was extraordinarily rare and included Papal Letters of Indulgence from 1452, the first edition of the ‘Mazarin’ Bible of 1455, the Mentz Psalter of 1457 and 57 original Caxton Bibles. The Spencers’ collection of portraits is particularly fine and as a record of a family and of English portraiture, it is outstanding. The roll-call of names - Rubens, Van Dyck, Reynolds, Gainsborough – is familiar to everyone.
Who? Lady Antonia Fraser, Alan Davies, Bill Bryson, Jenni Murray, Gavin Esler, John Julius Norwich
Where? Althorp, Northampton , England | AA Route Planner
When? June 12-13,- 2010
How much? Tickets for the 2010 Althorp Literary Festival will go on sale mid April.
Festival Web Further details can be found at www.althorp.com or telephone 01604 770107.
2010 Programme 7th Althorp Literary Festival
Lady Antonia Fraser: Must You Go?
Harold Pinter and Antonia Fraser lived together from August 1975 until his death thirty three years later on Christmas Eve 2008. Join Lady Antonia Fraser as she discusses her wonderful new memoir, Must You Go?, which provides an insight into modern literature’s most celebrated marriage - between the greatest playwright of the age and a beautiful and famous prize-winning biographer.
In essence, this book is a love story and, as with many love stories, the beginning and the end, the first light and the twilight, are dealt with more fully than the high noon in between.
In this compelling and heartfelt session at the Althorp Literary Festival, Lady Antonia will be in conversation with journalist Suzi Feay.
Alan Davies, currently appears as a resident panellist on the BBC’s incredibly popular QI quiz series, hosted by Stephen Fry, but is also particularly well known for his starring role in mystery series Jonathan Creek.
Alan will talk at the Althorp Literary Festival in June, about his latest book ‘My Favourite People and Me’, which is a childhood memoir about growing up in the late 70s and 80s and those people who he held as personal icons or admired, mainly from afar, as an impressionable boy and teenager growing up in Essex.
Alan Davies will be in conversation with Justin Pollard (popular historian, writer and producer) and will also be chatting about his other interests and achievements, including QI.
Join much loved travel writer Bill Bryson as he discusses his latest release ‘At Home’, which stems from Bryson’s realisation that we devote a lot more time to the Wars of the Roses or the Normandy Landings than considering what most of history really consists of: centuries upon centuries of people quietly going about their daily business - eating, sleeping, having sex, endeavouring to be amused. In this lively and entertaining talk, he shares his journey around his home, considering how the ordinary things in life came to be, and sheds new light on the true meaning of home.
Bill Bryson, has written an array of bestselling travel books. Titles include The Lost Continent, Notes from a Small Island, A Walk in the Woods and Down Under. His acclaimed book on the history of science, A Short History of Nearly Everything, was shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize, and won the Aventis Prize for Science Books and the Descartes Science Communication Prize.
Jenni Murray is one of radio and televisions most respected broadcasters. As the regular presenter of Radio 4 Woman’s Hour since 1987, she has daily demonstrated her incredible range and depth and a unique ability to understand the feelings and complexities of those she interviews, talents she has also brought to BBC Newsnight and Everyman and BBC Radio Today and Thursday Call. Jenni has published numerous books and writes regularly for newspapers and magazines
Join Jenni at Althorp as she shares her remarkable story‘Memoirs of a Not So Dutiful Daughter’, detailing her childhood, and most significantly, her relationship with her mother. Jenni Murray grew up in a traditional household in the 1950s, but Instead of becoming the conventional housewife her mother expected her to be, Jenni opted to forge her own path in both her career and her personal life, resulting in tensions that have lasted as long as she can remember.
Award winning journalist, author and Newsnight presenter Gavin Esler will be joining us to discuss his new release, ‘Powerplay’. Join Gavin as he tells his story of the decline in the US – British ‘special relationship’, as seen through the eyes of Alex Price the British Ambassador to Washington, at a time of crisis. The British, Scottish and American governments find themselves having a huge row over terrorism. To patch things up, the British invite the American vice president to come on a shooting trip to Scotland – where he disappears. In this lively and riveting session, Gavin will share this political adventure, which investigates what happens when the Anglo - American relationship seems irrevocably damaged beyond repair.
Gavin Esler has anchored the BBC News Channel since 1997 and reported for news and documentary programmes across Europe, Russia, China and North and South America. He joined the presenting team of BBC Two’s Newsnight in January 2003. Gavin is the author of several novels, including Loyalties, Deep Blue, The Blood Brother, A Scandalous Man, and most recently, Powerplay.
John Julius Norwich, English historian and travel writer will be providing an insightful talk on his new release, The Great Cities in History. Lord Norwich has edited and contributed to this magnificent volume, which tells the story of seventy of the world’s greatest cities from Uruk at the beginning of the third millennium BC, to Syndey and Shanghai of today. The book moves in chronological order, and the galaxy of distinguished writers assembled by John Julius Norwich evoke the character, art, architecture and above all, the people of each city and explain the reasons for their success.
John Julius Norwich is the author of many varied publications, including The Normans in the South, The Architecture of Southern England, A History of Venice and Byzantium: The Early Centuries. He has written and presented some thirty historical documents for television and radio, and is a regular lecturer on his many travel subjects.
2009 Fern Britton among friends at festival
In 2009 Alastair Campbell, Antony Beevor, Louis de Bernieres, Richard Madeley, Fern Britton, Simon Schama, Anne Fine, Rick Wakem
Date: 06 April 2009
Journalists, rock stars, television presenters and historians will be among the famous names coming to the sixth annual Althorp Literary Festival in Northamptonshire. Organisers for the event, which looks set to be the biggest yet, announced earlier this year that former spin doctor Alastair Campbell will appear to talk about his novel All in the Mind.
It has since been confirmed that presenter Fern Britton, who announced she would be leaving TV's breakfast show This Morning after 10 years, will also visit Althorp House for the festival in June – as well as her predecessor on the TV show, Richard Madeley.
Other top names include historian Simon Schama, former Northampton schoolgirl and popular children's author Anne Fine, and Rick Wakeman, former member of prog rock group Yes.
A spokesman for the festival said: "In June the Althorp Literary Festival will celebrate its sixth anniversary with a stellar cast of novelists, journalists, historians, rock stars and biographers.
"The festival is also delighted to announce two special events on Friday evening, Sandi Toksvig's acclaimed one-woman show and TV darling, Fern Britton, talking about her life and career.
"Leading the programme of events is journalist and political spin-doctor Alastair Campbell, and one half of daytime TV's favourite duo Richard Madeley, who looks at his relationship with his father.
"Rock legend Rick Wakeman and 1960s icon Pattie Boyd give their own unique insights into the world of rock 'n' roll."
Stanley Johnson, father of London Mayor Boris, will also come to the county to deliver an "hilarious retrospective" of his life.
Meanwhile author of the international bestseller Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Louis de Bernieres, will provide the finale to the festival, which will run from Friday, June 12 until Sunday, June 14.
The festival, which was initially set up by Caroline Spencer, is being sponsored by Sotherbys. Last year it was launched by celebrity chef Clarissa Dickson-Wright while tickets to hear broadcaster John Humphrys talk about his book In God We Trust completely sold out.
Tickets for this year's event are now available by calling Northampton 771107.
Last Updated: 06 April 2009 7:15 AM
Source: Northampton Chron & Echo
Location: Northampton
http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/Fern-Britton-among-friends-at.5143277.jp
What Authors said about the 2008 Althorp Literary Festival:
Anthony Horowitz
Ive been to literary festivals all over the world but none of them had the intimacy and the enthusiasm of Althorp.
Saul David
My only worry is that all future literary festivals will seem a disappointment after yours.
Alison Weir
I speak from experience, having been doing these events for the best part of twenty years. The festival is clearly going from strength to strength and is becoming one of the chief highlights of the literary year.
Patrick Bishop
Althorp was the best literary festival Ive been to and Im sure it will carry on going from strength to strength.
General Sir Mike Jackson
Everything was faultlessly organised, the atmosphere terrifi.
