Monday 10th July 2010 8pm
Join us on Monday 12th July to hear Selina Hastings discuss her acclaimed biography 'The Secret Lives of Somerset Maugham'.
Somerset Maugham was an acclaimed author of over a hundred short stories and twenty one novels but his private life was largely kept hidden.
Selina Hasting's biography tells the story of the emotional turmoil of Maugham's private life, in comparison to his success as a writer. He was 'outed' as gay only after his death and this biography looks at the painful love affairs he had in a time when being gay was still illegal, as well as his disastrous marriage to Syrie Wellcome.
Selina Hasting's biography is superbly written and kept us gripped throughout. It really brings to life the complex and multi-layered man Somerset Maugham was. We can't recommend it enough, but don't just take our word for it...
'One of the fascinating pleasures of this biography is to see the veils being stripped away and the messy truth about Maugham's life and relationships exposed...Hastings recounts the mass of detail and the massive literary output with great sagacity and the sharpest eyes' The Guardian, William Boyd
This is an N16 Readers and Writers network event. This event is £2.50 and includes a glass of wine.
Wednesday 21st July 2010 8pm
Come and join us on Wednesday 21st July at 8pm to hear local author Travis Elborough talk about his new book, 'Wish You Were Here, England on Sea'.
What do you think when you think of Scarborough, Morecambe, Bognor Regis, Skegness? Probably not 'wish you were here'. Not so long ago however these names were synonymous with long Summers and family holidays.
Join Travis Elborough on an exploration of our love for the seaside. Travelling from Blackpool to West Wittering, Travis finds donkeys and Dracula, Austen's satire and Brighton Rock's razor gangs, mods and eco-tourism, Billy Butlin and Basil Fawlty and discovers that English attitudes to just about everything - class, humour, modernism and identity - were forged by our relationship with the seaside.
Travis Elborough is one of our favourite authors, his work is always well researched and a delight to read.
'Elborough is a charming, funny and frequently fascinating guide' Daily Telegraph
'Reassuring air of cultural authority... impressive depth of perspective... admirably persuasive' Independent on Sunday
This event costs £2.00 which will be taken off the price of the book and includes a free ice-cream glass of wine.