and more...Poetry, History,Fiction, Biography,Drama

Rosie Alison

Simon Brett

Josceline Dimbleby

2010

8-24 October

Jenny Uglow

Lyndall Gordon

James Holland

Knutsford LiteratureFestival

The Restoration of Charles II in 1660was welcomed with joy by many, afterthe dour Cromwellian era. The firstdecade of his reign was a time ofglamour and drama in the court,contrasting with the rise of scienceand failure to gain religioustoleration. It was a pulsating,vibrant, violent world, where therisks the King took forged the fateof the nation.

Jenny Uglow is a critic, historian, editor and biographer ofElizabeth Gaskell, William Hogarth, Thomas Bewick and The Lunar Men.

‘Triumphant … we will probably never have a better description of theRestoration court, elegant, libidinous and lethal by turns’ Financial Times.

A Gambling Man1

Friday 8th October

2.00pm

Book Signing

Ticket Essential

Refreshments available

Methodist Church, Princess Street

2

Tuesday 12th October

8.00pm Book Signing

The Battle of BritainJames Holland’s narrative historyof the Battle of Britain told equallyfrom both sides

Jenny Uglow makes a welcomereturn to our programme withher brilliant biography ofCharles II and the Restoration

Ticket Essential

Methodist Church, Princess Street

Refreshments available

The Battle of Britain in thesummer of 1940 is one of the keymoments in British history.

James Holland’s book is publishedto commemorate the 70thanniversary of the many events ofthat time. It has been televised byBBC2 for screening in Septemberwith commentary by the author.James has spent four years inresearch and writing, speakingwith some of the last survivingveterans from both sides.

Orchards in the Oasis3

Wednesday 13th October

2.00pm

Ticket Essential

Josceline Dimbleby explores thefood influences of her rich andvaried life

Leicester Warren Hall, Bexton Lane

Refreshments available

Book Signing

Josceline Dimbleby’s lifelong loveaffair with food results from her earlyexperience of cuisines around theworld. As a child she watched cookstransform food with spices andherbs, resulting in her being one ofour most creative cookery writers.

Orchards in the Oasis describes her travels and includes 70 irresistiblerecipes. The book is illustrated by mouth-watering food photography, aswell as personal photographs from her far-ranging travels.

Josceline has written 24 books and was food columnist for the SundayTelegraph for over 15 years. She currently contributes to many otherpublications.

‘A fond and mouth-watering testament to the richness and delight oftravel’ Colin Thubron.

He is a member of the British Commissionfor Military History and the Guild ofBattlefield Guides. His previous booksinclude Fortress Malta, Italy’s Sorrow andthe fictional WWII series featuringSergeant Jack Tanner.

‘A definitive record … The fact we won isremarkable and Holland brings the eventsvividly to life’ News of the World.

Playwright, actor, director andproducer, Terence Frisby is bestremembered for There’s a Girl in MySoup, London’s longest-runningstage comedy. His highlyacclaimed memoir, Kisses on aPostcard, began life as an award-winning Radio 4 play. By turns tender, humorous, seriousand sad, this book is a wonderfully evocative account of the three and ahalf years he and his elder brother, Jack, spent as evacuees in a Cornishvillage.

‘The end is incredibly touching. The writing is wonderful. I reallyrecommend this book…’ Kate Saunders, BBC Radio 2.

Leicester Warren Hall, Bexton Lane

4

Thursday 14th October

Kisses on a PostcardTerence Frisby evokes a childhoodrich in experience, as an evacueeduring WWII

7.30pm

Book Signing

Refreshments available

Ticket Essential

Sponsored by

The Cranford Companion is a detailed andbeautifully illustrated book which will draw thereader into the heart of Cranford itself. The latterpart of the book tells of the sleight-of-hand used totake all the material and turn it into an originaldrama.

Sue Birtwistle and Susie Conklin are the creators ofthe BBC adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell’s Cranford.They have worked together on several well-lovedBBC productions, including the seminal Pride andPrejudice and the bestselling book that went with it.

6

2.30pm Book Signing

Book Signing

The Cranford Companion

Methodist Church, Princess Street

Saturday 16th October

A joyful celebration of all things Cranford, by thecreators of the award-winning BBC series

Katherine Mansfield: The StorytellerA new biography by Kathleen Jones, detailing the life and legacyof New Zealand’s legendary writer

5

Friday 15th October

2.00pm

TicketEssential

TicketEssential

Refreshmentsavailable

Leicester Warren Hall, Bexton Lane

Refreshments available

In the first new biography of Katherine Mansfieldin 25 years, Kathleen Jones gives a vivid portrayalof Mansfield, correcting previousmisinterpretations of her illnesses andrelationships and weaving a compelling drama.

Besides radio journalism, short fiction andpoetry, Jones’ published work includes APassionate Sisterhood, an account of the womenin the lives of the Lake Poets, and a biography ofChristina Rossetti.

Kathleen Jones is a full time writer, who has taught creative writing in anumber of colleges and universities and is currently a Royal Literary FundFellow at Lancaster University.

‘…a text unusually sparkling and intimate, providing a new kind of pictureof this brilliant, original, yet fragile writer.’ Penguin

book-swap  -  bring one/take one

Jane Robinson’s highly praised book hasestablished her as an engaging social historianwith an appreciative eye for eccentricity.Bluestockings is widely researched, drawing onarchives, memoirs, diaries, scrapbooks andinterviews with 120 early ‘graduettes’. Using thewords of the women themselves, Jane exploresthe inspiring story of these early pioneers – astory of defiance and determination,generous friendships and mid-night cocoa-parties and, above all, glorious self-fulfilment in their hard-won educations.

‘Warm and funny … an education to us all’ Independent on Sunday

Drawing on previously untapped papers, thisbrilliant and powerful book rewrites the legend ofthis poet of posthumous fame. It is a masterpieceof detection with sex, scandal, passion andbetrayal intertwined in family relationships. EmilyDickinson’s legacy and genius is seen through thelens of the family feuds that lasted for threegenerations.

Lyndall Gordon is the prize winning author of sixbiographies.

‘Tells a completely hair-raising story’. Spectator

Lives Like Loaded Guns: EmilyDickinson and Her Family’s Feuds

Lyndall Gordon’s bold new biography dismantles thesentimental legend of this reclusive poet

Leicester Warren Hall, Bexton Lane

8

Wednesday 20th October

2.00pm

BluestockingsJane Robinson’s illustrated talk recalls the remarkable story ofthe first women to fight for an education

Methodist Church, Princess Street

7

Tuesday 19th October

2.30pm Book Signing

Book Signing

Ticket Essential

Refreshments available

TicketEssential

Refreshments available

Edith CavellDiana Souhami discussesher compelling biographyof the British nurse,Edith Cavell

Methodist Church,Princess Street

10

Friday 22nd October

8.00pm

Book Signing

Ticket Essential

A Literary Lunch with Simon BrettBe tickled to death by our entertaining guest

Mere Golf and Country Club

9

Thursday 21st October

12 noon for12.30pm

Ticket Essential

Simon Brett is a prolific and consummate author and scriptwriter. He isperhaps best known for his light-hearted crime stories which have skippedacross the alphabet from The Body on the Beach, via The Corpse in theCloister to his recent The Shooting in the Shop. His creations for TV includethe comedy series After Henry featuring Prunella Scales, and his CharlesParis novels have been adapted for Radio 4 drama.

Simon is a uniquely witty speaker withthe talent to mimic a complete cast ofcharacters as he invites us to laugh atthe clichés and stereotypes of theclassic whodunit. Those who rememberhis performance in 2005 will not wantto miss his return to our Festival.

‘Simon Brett is one of British crimes’most assured craftsmen… Crime writing just as in the good olddays of perfect entertainment’

Refreshmentsavailable

Book Signing

Diana Souhami won the Whitbreadprize for biography in 2001.

Her latest book, Edith Cavell, is apenetrating study of the pioneeringBritish nurse whose hospital for thewounded in Brussels during WorldWar I provided cover for escapees andthe resistance movement. Diana isable to ‘get under the skin’ of hersubjects and in this book sheconfronts the reader with the idea ofaltruism and the concept of goodnessin Edith Cavell’s life.

Publication has been set to coincidewith the October anniversary of herexecution by the Germans.

The Very Thought of You Orange short-listed nominee,Rosie Alison, makes her debut

11

Saturday 23rd October

2.30pm Book Signing

Methodist Church, Princess Street

Rosie Alison’s first novel, The Very Thought of You, is a lovestory set in a school for evacueesin a country house in Yorkshire.The disintegration of theowners’ marriage and adeveloping love affair areobserved by one of the pupils,who becomes involved.

Love and loss in their manyaspects are the theme of thisdelightful and very affectingnovel.

Rosie spent ten years directing TV documentaries before moving into film production.

‘Melancholic, mysterious and heartbreakingly gorgeous’The Times

TicketEssential

sponsored by

Refreshmentsavailable

Why not come along and bring a selection of your favourite poems aboutanimals?

No need to feel restricted by the theme.

Join us with your friends(two-legged only) andentertain us with poemsnew or old.

Tyger, Tyger burning brightIn the forests of the night(Blake)

Animal Magic

Catholic Church Hall, Tatton Street

12

Saturday 23rd October

8.00pm

A celebration of words and purrs

Margaret Rutherford RecalledJacqueline Pilton presents adelightfully funny and poignantrepresentation of the life andcareer of Margaret Rutherford

Civic Centre, Toft Road

13

Sunday 24th October

2.30pm

TicketEssential

Ticket Advisable to include glass of wine

Jacqueline Pilton is a highlyexperienced actress with a longcareer in film and theatre. She isfamiliar to audiences from her many television appearances in ‘soaps’(Coronation Street, Emmerdale and The Royal) and costume drama ( JaneEyre and Wives and Daughters).

She brings to the Festival her entertaining one-woman show in thecharacter of the celebrated actress Margaret Rutherford, recalling herunusual life, marriage and family.

‘It was like seeing her again – a brilliant portrayal of Margaret Rutherford.’