Our du Maurier Lit Fest Itinerary

I hope you are all geared up for a virtual trip to Justine Picardie's Daphne event at Fowey this weekend if you can't be there in person, and even more Daphne du Maurier treats over the next few days. Justine will be talking to Rupert Tower, Daphne's grandson and Henrietta Llewelyn Davies the great grand-daughter of Sylvia Llewelyn Davies, Daphne's aunt and mother of the famous Lost Boys.
I make no apology for the Daphne-fest on here, it's quite a luxury to focus my reading on a single author and I am so steeped in Daphne that I've booked yet another day at Fowey to cope with my incorrigibly inquisitive 'need-to-know' (nosey in other words) nature and I'll take you all with me of course.
I've added in an event entitled "du Maurier's Cornwall" which I think we'll all enjoy.
Helen Doe and Ann Willmore (Cornish experts both and Ann of the fabulous Bookends bookshop in Fowey) and Helen Taylor (editor of The Daphne du Maurier Companion which has been at my right hand all week) will discuss Daphne's deep understanding and literary treatment of  Cornwall. The session will also show selections of the film directed by her son, Christian Browning, Vanishing Cornwall. I can't think of anything better after this week's reading.
Well actually I can and I've booked us in for something else too.
Lady Tessa Montgomery.
Daphne's elder daughter, married to Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, recalls much of the family background together with her childhood at Menabilly and her travels with her mother.
To fill in a gap between these two events and just so we won't be bored, I'm really sorry about this but I'm dragging you all along to A Celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Virago Modern Classic's List.
Now don't groan, I know you'll all hate it but it's far better than being out in the rain (it always rains for this festival)
Virago editor Donna Coonan will be discussing women's classics with writers Linda Grant and Stella Duffy.
Can you possibly bear it all?
As a treat I'll take you all into the Book Tent afterwards and we might catch a glimpse of the special edition anniversary Virago's, then perhaps we'll drive along the coast a bit too. Daphne not the only famous resident of course, and I don't think I'm divulging celebrity secrets if I reveal Dawn French and Lenny's new 40-roomed home in Fowey, Point Neptune at Readymoney Cove (picture courtesy of Brit2 on flickr).
Sadly we haven't been invited for tea because Dawn's very busy making the curtains.

Comments

[Wendy Smith]

Nice, but imagine all that cleaning!

[Rebecca]

The forecast for the weekend is pretty good actually! I shall be in Plymouth looking at racing yachts and tall ships, and listening to jazz (Artemis Transat race/ Barbican Jazz and Blues Festival). I saw the reissued Virago Modern Classics in Waterstones yesterday. Next week, when I have my book tokens with me, I shall buy 'Diary of a Provincial Lady' with its wonderful Cath Kidston 'floral wallpaper' cover.

[BookAddict]

I am really enjoying this 'Daphne fest' and have dusted down my old copies of her novels, all thanks to you! Just a shame all my chores are unfinished as I always have my nose in a book!!

[Cornflower]

Wish I could be in Fowey, too, but shall hang on your every word about it instead.

[dovegreyreader]

Wendy, I'm sure they have staff!
Rebecca, enjoy the Trans-At start, Offspringette is down there beavering away behind the scenes. Plymouth making much of it this time round which is good.

[Louise]

I can hardly wait to hear ALL about it. I feel as though I shall be there in spirit, if not in body through your blog!

[Mog]

Well there will be a lot of curtains to sew!!
Your weekend sounds wonderful, have a fabulous time and please give us plenty of info. Can't wait.

[Karen]

I am waiting to hear all about the festival - I have been reading about it for weeks wishing I could be in the UK to attend.

[Simon T]

Cornflower and I started a Daphne Fest a while ago, too, - Backwards With Daphne i.e. reading her novels from the last to the first. I'm afraid my success rate is null, in that I've yet to start... but will do asap!