Xanthe Arvanitakis, Director of Chiswick House & Gardens Trust, and Torin Douglas, Director of the Chiswick Book Festival, are delighted to announce details of a sparkling event on Thursday September 11th, to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen in the beautiful surroundings of Chiswick House & Gardens, where Austen’s characters would have felt at home.
Gill Hornby, the incoming President of the Jane Austen Society and the author of the novel Miss Austen, a fictionalised exploration of Austen and her sister Cassandra, alongside other works about the celebrated writer, will be the keynote speaker at this year’s Chiswick Book Festival evening.
Beloved by Austenites, Hornby’s bestselling novel was turned into a four-part BBC drama this year, to coincide with the 250th anniversary of Jane’s birth.
Gill will discuss ‘Jane Austen: Fact and Fiction’ in conversation with the director of the hit BBC drama series, Aisling Walsh, illustrated with clips from the programmes.
Chiswick actors Phyllis Logan and Kevin McNally, who played Jane Austen’s parents, will read book extracts and the event will be chaired by Torin Douglas.
Xanthe Arvanitakis, Director of Chiswick House & Gardens Trust says:
“We’re delighted to welcome local book lovers to Chiswick House & Gardens for the Chiswick Book Festival, and we can’t wait for this exciting Jane Austen-themed event, which we’re sure will be a hit with Book Festival regulars and new attendees alike.
“The annual literary festival is part of a lively programme of events at Chiswick House & Gardens Trust, where we aim to provide something for everyone, from nature lovers, to families with small children – and, of course, history aficionados and literature lovers. As a charity that is 75% supporter funded we exist because of and for our community, and hosting the festival is part of our commitment to being a place and space that people enjoy all year round.”
Torin Douglas, Director of the Chiswick Book Festival, says:
“The Festival’s Chiswick House evening is always a highlight for book lovers in west London but this year is particularly special. We’re honoured to be welcoming the new president of the Jane Austen Society, Gill Hornby, and from the BBC drama series Miss Austen, Aisling Walsh, Phyllis Logan and Kevin McNally, who all live in Chiswick and love Chiswick House”.
Tickets for this event will be on sale from June.
