This time next week, I'll be at Dartington Hall in Devon, for the Telegraph Ways With Words festival -- which is turning 20 this year (happy birthday, and hip hip hurrah!). Dartington is a magical setting for one of my favourite festivals -- the architecture and gardens of the Hall are reason enough to visit, quite aside from the extraordinary range of speakers, all drawn to Devon by the charismatic festival director, Kay Dunbar. I'm talking at 4pm on Sunday 10th July, and very much hope to see you there. I'm also going to organise a very special prize for one lucky winner at Dartington who buys the new paperback edition of my Chanel book; come to the book signing afterwards, and all will be revealed. Clue: it is authentic Chanel...
11 comments:
It sounds glorious. Next year I am going to try to be here for a festival. I still think our garden party was as good as a festival !!! Good luck and enjoy. I am savouring my paperback Coco and find rereading it so rewarding.
Garden parties AND festivals -- definitely the way forward...
Via the wonders of my iPad I am writing this on the train on my way to Colchester to stay with a friend with whom I did a teacher/house exchange many years ago. The OH has gone up to Geordieland to visit friends there and we meet up at Gatwick for a cruise to Croatia.
We visited Castle Howard as OH hadn't been before and I hadn't been for twenty years. The house hadn't changed but it was fascinating to see the exhibition of the filming of both versions of Brideshead Revisited and the room used for Lord Marchmont's death scene left as a film set. Now feel compelled to watch it al over again when we get home. The chapel brought back those haunting scenes of Claire Bloom praying there.
I love Brideshead Revisited -- the television series as much as the book, which is very rare (the only other filmed version of a novel that really works for me in a similarly satisfying way is Howard's End).
Am in bed with a proper flu bug. Barely unable to move this morning, but have just got up for a bit, checked my emails, and am now retreating in horror under the duvet (not at blog messages, I hasten to add, but work-related emails about deadlines etc).
Nurse Ratched here recommends Night Nurse then Baileys with lots of ice before bed! It wont help the flu but it will help you sleep.. Hope you feel better soon.
Night Nurse sounds just what I need, though sadly, none to hand, nor Baileys neither. Have just been wrestling with broken dishwasher; not recommended with a feverish head. Dishwasher still refusing to co-operate, despite my pleas, entreaties and -- finally -- muttered curses; worse things happen at sea, etc etc, but am feeling hopeless. Maybe the dishwasher has caught my virus? Will it ever forgive me?
Hi Justine,
I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your evocative talk on Coco Chanel at the KCWC meeting a few weeks ago. In fact I read your wonderful book within 24 hours and, as a fellow writer, felt compelled to write about it on my blog!
Enjoy Dartington Hall. I am friends with William Elmhirst whose fascinating family have created such a magical place. Good luck at the festival!
Best wishes,
Julie
Dear Justine, we were hoping to come along on Sunday as our workshop is near Exeter. We (Parable Designs) produce beautiful handcrafted 'couture' candles from vintage wallpaper printing rollers and are looking into how our candles could be aligned in the fashion world. We therefore wondered if you would be interested in seeing one if you had the time although we completely understand that Sunday may not be a good time for you. However,if you were interested, maybe we could email you some details instead for your perusal. Thank you very much for your time and apologies for contacting you in this way. Kind regards, Amanda Barry. www.parabledesigns.co.uk
Julie, thanks so much for your comment, and your kind words. I know your writing from Vogue and Harpers et al, so it's very nice to hear from you, and to discover the Elmhirst/Dartington connection.
Amanda -- please do come and say hello at Dartington. I'll be around afterwards, signing books and chatting. I'm always on the look out for candles -- they're my amulet against the darkness of winter or melancholy.
Thanks Justine, hope all goes well today at Dartington. When you have the time you may enjoy a film made by my friend Frederick Keeve a few years back, entitled 'From Russia to Hollywood' - it contains some wonderful footage of the acting classes that Chekhov used to hold at Dartington from 1935 to 1942. Just fascinating!
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