The Independent Woodstock Literary Festival, 9-12 October 2008
For over 300 years the magnificent Blenheim Palace has been intimately involved with the cultural, artistic, political and military history of Great Britain. The adjoining historic market town of Woodstock is one of the most beautiful and civilized communities in England. Together they provide the unique and inspiring venues for The Independent Woodstock Literary Festival.
The organizers say they are delighted that The Independent and The Independent on Sunday are their new national media partners, contributing their reputation for informed and challenging debate and dialogue.
Simon Kelner, Editor in Chief of The Independent and The Independent on Sunday, commented:
We’re delighted that The Independent is partnering with the 2008 Woodstock Literary Festival, not just for the chance it gives us to swan about Blenheim Palace and its magnificent grounds, but because newspapers and literary festivals are natural bedfellows.
Both offer the reading public access to some of the finest minds and creative intelligences of the age. Both can cover important subjects in ways that are accessible without becoming trivial. Both can bring intelligent new perspectives to lighter subjects, whether food or fashion. And both can call on a richly diverse stable of experts to interview and confront significant figures from public life.
Woodstock will cast its net wide across the worlds of ideas, history, politics, the arts and entertainment, and gather them together for book fans (and, we hope, Independent fans) to enjoy. We are sure that this year will be the beginning of a long, happy and fruitful relationship.
This year’s distinctive events will be divided between Blenheim Palace and the historic town of Woodstock itself. The combination of well known authors, glorious settings like The Orangery, The Marlborough Room and The Spencer-Churchill Room, and (at the appropriate times) tea and home made cakes, should satisfy the intellectual and gastronomic appetites of the most discerning literary audience.
Thursday 9 October 4.30pm – 9pm
Howard Jacobson starts the festival with a shocking, unashamedly perverse, and mordantly funny look at THE ACT OF LOVE, as revealed in his new novel; Robert Hardy and Joanna David read extracts from Robert Fox’s 4 volume compendium EYEWITNESS TO HISTORY – a selection of accounts written at momentous historical moments; and the first day culminates appropriately with a LITERARY PUB QUIZ.
Friday 10th October 9.45am – 5.30pm
After coffee and home made Blenheim Palace cakes Henrietta Spencer-Churchill explains how to marry comfort and practicality with the spirit of 18th century elegance; David Cameron is in conversation with Simon Kelner; gardener and cook Sarah Raven builds up to Christmas with a stunning collection of recipes and flower projects; former British Museum curator Catherine Johns traces the history of dogs in myth and art; Adam Nicolson tells us what it is like living in the family home (and national treasure) of Sissinghurst; Tim Birkhead examines why birds are one of the wonders of our planet; Patrick Jephson, Equerry and Private Secretary to the late Princess Diana, reveals what it was like working for one of the world’s most famous and tragic women;, over tea and cakes John Boardman, former Professor of Classical Archaeology and Art at Oxford University, will talk about the Classical tradition with reference to Blenheim Palace; and Richard Holmes is the speaker at the Festival Dinner at Blenheim Palace.
Saturday 11th October 10.30am – 7pm
Crime novelists, PD James and Kate Summerscale, discuss the nature of crime and crime fiction; classical history scholar and author of the best-selling WARRIOR OF ROME: Fire in the East, Harry Sidebottom, gives his insight on writing exciting historical fiction; journalist Ann Leslie offers a ringside view of some of the most dramatic events of the late 20th century as recorded in her memoir KILLING MY OWN SNAKES; Susie Dent and Godfrey Howard, in the appropriate setting of Woodstock Library, discuss the state of the English language in For Who the Bell Tolls; Julie Summers recounts the entertaining and often disturbing stories she has collected of how mothers, wives, and daughters coped with their men coming back from war; Elizabeth Jane Howard talks about her life, her writing and her new novel Love All; and, over tea and home made cakes, Geoffrey Howard explores the ecstasy of women in love.
Sunday 12th October 10.30am – 5.30pm
Martin Bell, the famous ‘man in a white suit’, analyses the political decisions that took Britain into wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; writer Godfrey Howard brings Jane Austin’s letters to life; Trea Martyn tells of how the rivalry between two of Elizabeth I’s greatest courtiers, Lord Robert Dudley and Sir William Cecil, lead to fabulous gardens; Clive Aslet, Editor at Large for Country Life, offers a tour of the English domestic house – from a 17th century wooden home of a Marlborough silk merchant to the flat roofed prefabs of post war Amersham; historian Simon Schama examines American history to predict its future; Lawrence Freedman and Ziauddin Sarday lead a debate about the relationship between the Middle East and America and the challenges facing the new President; Shakespearean actor, Ben Crystal, gives what Judi Dench called “ brilliantly enjoyable look at Shakespeare.”; Alfie Boe, Brad Cohen and Alex James talk about their experiences of BBC TV’S recent series, MAESTRO; Rose Prince and The Independent’s food writer Mark Hix ask What makes English food English?; and publisher Nicola Beauman rounds up the festival with Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.
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