LITERARY COCKTAIL HOURS - AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER

On 19 August members gathered via Zoom to hear about two shortlisted entries for an adventure writing prize promoted by the  Wilbur and Niso Smith Foundation.   Diana writes:

On Thursday 19th of August we were treated to a double portion of literature as part of our series of literary cocktail parties.

Mike James got the evening off to a start by introducing the participants. These included Liveryman Peter Day, who was to conduct the interviews, Freeman Georgina Brown who was representing the Wilbur and Niso Smith Foundation and the two authors of the books which were featured.

The two books which were discussed were shortlisted for a prize for adventure writing from the Wilbur & Niso Smith Foundation. The Foundation seeks to promote writing and literacy through the genre of adventure.

Firstly under discussion was D.V. Bishop’s historical novel The City of Vengeance set in sixteenth century Florence.

A Jewish moneylender is murdered and Cesare Aldo an eminent court officer is charged with solving the crime in a short space of time. He must do so without revealing a secret about himself which would put him in serious jeopardy- which Peter Day pointed out is an essential aspect of a good adventure novel. This increases the tension throughout the book.

Questions were put to David from the audience about how someone should go about being a writer and do you have to prove that your concept or idea is viable.

The second novel Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce was quite a different kettle of fish - except that this was about beetles not fish and set in the 1950s.

Her book sets out to be about women and in particular two women who are trying to locate a beetle unique to the island of New Caledonia.  The characters are unlikely travelling companions but they are both very sympathetic and likeable. Their different personalities enhance the enjoyment of the book. Their adventurous journey both to the island and when they arrive are many - some amusing and others dramatic or sad and the ending is unpredictable and uplifting.

Peter Day’s enquiring interviewing technique leads you to want to find out what happens in both the novels without giving the game away. He is also interested in the processes authors go through during their careers as writers.

Rachel was also asked about her acting career.  It was discovered that a common thread between herself, Giles the Clerk and David Bishop was the television programme Doctors. Rachel and Giles had both acted in some episodes and David had been a scriptwriter ! This shows how well the Stationers’ company brings people together.

Both novels (each with a signed book plate) are still available to buy with all the profits being shared between The Stationers’ Foundation and the Wilbur & Niso Smith Foundation. Please contact Mike James (mjames@dundaleassociates.co.uk) if you would like to place an order.

The costs are:

City of Vengeance by D.V. Bishop = £15.00 plus £3.00 postage and packaging

Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce = £9.00 plus £2.00 postage and packaging

We are able to report that Miss Benson’s Beatle was the eventual winner of the Wilbur Smith prize for Adventure writing

Then on 19 September members gathered again to hear all about Liveryman David Meara's book which is due to be published in November.

Diana Reports:

In this the 14th Literary Cocktail Hour to be conducted online we learned a lot about John Betjeman’s approach to architecture and churches in particular.

Mike James introduced the evening before Peter Day took over the interview with Rev David Meara whose book - A Passion For Places  - England through the Eyes of John Betjeman- is to be published in November.

Firstly though Peter asked David about his own life and how he became involved in the church.

David was born in Oxford in 1947 and his family later moved to Pinner which is situated in the middle of Betjeman’s famous Metroland, the suburban area of north west London served by the Metropolitan Railway line. While living in the Chilterns David became interested in the local churches and in particular in the brass rubbings.

After attending Oriel college at Oxford University and completing two degrees David was ordained in 1973.

After a career spanning nearly 30 years David was appointed Rector of St Brides in Fleet Street, which has links to the newspaper industry. In 2009 he was appointed Archdeacon of London - of the square mile and the 38 churches within it. During his time at St Brides he was Honorary Chaplain of the Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers where he enjoyed attending the functions held there and became famous for his entertaining graces.

Then Peter moved on to asking David about the new book. His previous books had been about brasses so why did David turn his attention to John Betjeman ? He said that Betjeman loved Georgian,Victorian and Edwardian churches, in other words things that other people didn’t think much of, and after watching Betjeman on television beckoning the audience into the church he was featuring David felt personally welcomed and inspired.

Betjeman brought a new way of looking at places because he felt that previously Pevsner’s architectural guides had been too detailed and dull. He approached buildings as living places populated by people with a story to tell. A much more human response finding a sense of the spirit in a place rather than giving a detailed analysis of the architecture.

David’s book doesn’t concentrate on Betjeman’s poetry because that has been covered by other authors.

Some questions from the audience were put to David. Mike James asked if he had ever met Betjeman to which the answer was regretfully “no”. He had attended a lecture by him but not had the opportunity to personally meet him.

Unfortunately one of the questions, which asked whether Betjeman’s passion for railways comes into the book came in too late, so we shall have to read it to find out !

When A Passion for Places is published in November it can be purchased from Mike James -

mjames@dundaleassociates.co.uk and costs £15.99 plus £3 pp unless you collect it from the office. Books can be personally dedicated if required.

If you missed the event and would like to watch it please click the image below.