Spirit and Fire

Sue Hampton, who used to teach English at Dulwich College (under her maiden name Duffield) has just had her first novel for children published by Pegasus. It is aimed at 8-12 year olds, an age group she should be familiar with as she taught the first ever class of eight year olds at Dulwich. Spirit and Fire is set in AD 60 and tells the story of a young Celtic girl Aifa, caught and sold into slavery in London. Her father's nickname for her is Mouse, a term of endearment also used by Edward Alleyn for his first wife, Joan Woodward. If you would like to read the book, a copy is available in the Archives.

Villainously Good Reading

Simon & Schuster are hosting a free event at 6:30 pm on October 17 at the T Bar in Shoreditch High Street. Authors Paul Bajoria, Linda Buckely Archer, Justin Somper and Matt Whyman will be discussing the importance and pitfalls of literary villains. Email penelopewebber@penelopewebber.plus.com or call 7316 1979 to apply for a ticket.

Michael Ondaatje (OA)

... will be talking about his new novel, Divisadero, at the UCL Bloomsbury Theatre, 15 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AH on Thursday 27 September at 7 pm. Tickets cost £7 (£5 concessions) - ring 0845 456 9876. It is part of a series of Blackwell Events running over the autumn. Others include author Susanna Clarke (25 Sept) and Michael Palin (26 Sept).
for further information see http://www.blackwell.co.uk/.

Elizabeth 1 and the culture of writing

Dr Grace Ioppolo and her husband, Peter Beal, are the editors of a new book of essays Elizabeth 1 and the culture of writing, published by the British Library, which sheds light on the role Elizabeth I played as an author herself and as a muse to her subjects in the 'golden' period of English literature. Dr Ioppolo is the director of the project to digitise the Philip Henslowe and Edward Alleyn theatre papers in the Archives at Dulwich College. Her essay is on the correspondence between the Queen and the Earl of Essex (the Hulton Letters). Henry Woudhuysen is Professor of English at University College, London and the father of an Alleynian. He is also a member of the digitisation project team and his essay is an introduction to the Queen's own writings. Peter Beal's essay is concerned with Elizabeth's execution warrants, he is another member of the digitisation project team.