I'm just gathering myself together before setting off to speak at the Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival today. I lived in Oxford for a while as a child -- my father was an academic there -- and there's something about going back to the places where one grew up... I have this fantasy that I'll get there, and it will all be the same as it was; I'll turn a corner, and see myself and my sister as little girls, playing hopscotch on the pavement outside our house in Jericho.
It's so vivid in my memory today -- cycling to school up the Woodstock Road; the cherry blossom in Summertown; the ducks on the lake in Worcester College gardens.
Anyway, looking forward to meeting some of you later today, I hope. I'll be the woman with the nostalgic smile on my face...
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8 comments:
Good luck Justine, I'm sure it all went brilliantly and look forward to hearing all about it. Today we have been mostly in Fowey and I now feel steeped in du Maurier-ness, gorgeous bright sunny day, first ice cream of the year and I met Anne at the bookshop. We talked for ages and of course of necessity I bought a book. Sadly the first edition of Rebecca sold just this week for £2800 so I had to settle for the Virago edition of Daphne's Branwell at £7.99.
Would have loved to be there, Justine, but still feeling under the weather and have thus stayed in. Hope it went brilliantly!
Hope it went splendidly Justine, and I'm so sorry I missed it. Perhaps I shall see you in the streets of Jericho.
A trip down memory lane, how lovely. I hope you enjoy it.
Thanks to everyone for these comments. The event sold out, so that was good -- though I was sad not to meet Kirsty and Simon. (I walked past the OUP, which was looking splendid, as always).
Lynne -- glad you met Ann at the bookshop in Fowey. I can't believe that a Rebecca first edition is now worth so much! I have some of Daphne's books that she used while she was researching Branwell, with her scribbles all over them. I expect they will turn into collectors' items, eventually...
I hope it all went well yesterday. I love Oxford, particularly at this time of the year. How lucky the people there were to get to hear you talk about 'Daphne'.
Ann -- I wish you'd be there, too.
I would say Daphne's books with her own scribbles are already collectors' items, aren't they? They must be great, and so special.
Cristina.
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