Images of a Literary Festival

In May 2004, Richard Perceval Graves was one of those fortunate enough to be invited [courtesy of the British Council] to spend a long weekend as the guest of the Mayor and Citizens of Trouville-sur-mer, with the aim of celebrating 60 years since the Normandy landings in 1944, and 100 years since the start of 'L'Entente Cordiale'.

The local organiser [pictured right] was Maria Adle-Besson, an author herself and the indefatigable inspiration of the entire weekend.
The skies may have been overcast [see the beach picture above] but the literary festival was a very happy occasion.
There follows a short series of photographs, showing first 'Literary and other Celebrities' and then 'Entertainers of Genius' showing some of the musicians and the singer who entertained us so memorably on the evening of Saturday 9 May.

      


Among those present was Louis de Bernières, the self-confident and good-humoured author of the highly acclaimed Captain Corelli's Mandolin, pictured left together with his delightful partner Cathy Gill, an actress and Producer whose quiet devotion to Louis combined with her unforced friendliness to the rest of us made her a great favourite.




     Also present was Adam Thorpe, author most notably of Ulverton, and a modest gentleman of charm and shrewd intelligence. He is pictured here with the author and columnist Candida Crewe, a witty personality who took no formal part in the proceedings, but whose genuine interest in literature, combined with her infectious enthusiasm, was an important ingredient of their success.

      

Here we see biographer Richard Perceval Graves sitting next to the highly acclaimed novelist Angela Huth, whose determination and independence of mind made her a valuable contributor to the literary discussions in which she took place. She also has the distinction of being Candida Crewe's mother.


      

Scottish Literature was ably represented by the observant novelist and poet Andrew Grieg, who is shown here sitting next to his vivacious wife, the novelist Lesley Glaister,with whom he lives in Sheffield. [Lesley is also a playwright - she intrigued us with the dramatic plot of a play that is still being written - and her work could well be of interest to Cathy.


     Among numerous other personalities we were fortunate to meet Hilary Kaiser, a spirited American author who has lived in Paris for many years; Paul Courtenay, urbane and knowledgeable vice-president of the international Churchill Society, and Michelle Appleton, a delightful representative from the British Council in Paris.

      


On Saturday evening we were entertained by the brilliant saxophonist Joe Leader, who had gathered round him some of the finest session-playing jazz musicians in Great Britain. The Joe Leader Sextet included Roland Perrin on the piano, Nick France on the drums, Mark Johns on the guitar and Dill Katz on the Bass.The vocalist was Joe's sister Felicia Beder, pictured above with Roland and Joe. Felicia's passionate singing and dramatic costume changes filled the Salon des Gouverneurs in the Casino Barriere de Trouville with warmth and glamour.

Here are a few more pictures of the entertainers:


     And here, to close, is a line-up of Candida Crewe, Louis de Bernieres, Cathy Gill, and Richard Perceval Graves, a happy photograph which sums up the cameraderie which grew up between those lucky enough to be taking part in Trouville-sur-Mer's first International Literary Festival. Our thanks to the Mayor and Citizens of Trouville and [from the British contingent] to the British Council who supported our presence.