Bowood Hotel’s series of Guest Author Afternoon Teas returns this autumn with two October diary dates. The first plays to an autumnal mood perfectly with a historical exploration of Britain’s ancient woodland. The true story of the passionate love affair that lies behind ‘Dr. Zhivago’ will then be revealed later in the month.
Derek Niemann and“A Tale of Trees - How Britain nearly lost its ancient woodland.”
Tuesday 4th October
While we are a nation that loves its ancient woods and trees, valuing their history and heritage, only a generation ago we were all set to wipe them out. Nearly half of our ancient woods are said to have been destroyed in the space of just 30 years. Nature and wildlife writer and editor, Derek Niemann’s latest book explores how and why this has happened - and asks who has prevented them all being lost?
A story full of tragedy and heroism, ingenuity and blindness, “A Tale of Trees” features the voices of those who cut down the woods and those who saved what was left. Among the fascinating insight he’ll provide, Derek will highlight how up to 50% of Wiltshire’s ancient woodland has been converted to conifer plantations, primarily during the 1950s and 1960s, especially east of Salisbury and the Marlborough woodlands of Savernake Forest and Collingbourne Wood.
With ‘A Tale of Trees’ encouraging the reader to explore more ancient wood and delight in our natural treasures, autumnal Bowood is the perfect location for pairing this afternoon tea talk with a visit to the Pleasure Grounds that surround Bowood House just a mile away on the Estate from the hotel. Bowood has been continually maintaining Capability Brown’s original vision for the 2,000 acre Grade 1 listed parkland whilst aiming to enhance it with new species. Over one million trees have been planted at Bowood in the past four decades, for example.
Anna Pasternak & ‘Lara - the untold true love story and inspiration for Doctor Zhivago.”
Wednesday 19th October: Monday 31st October
‘Lara’ is the heart-breaking story of the passionate love affair between Boris Pasternak and Olga Ivinskaya which lies behind Dr. Zhivago.
The two met in 1946 at the literary journal where she worked and their relationship would last for the remainder of their lives. Yet Olga paid an enormous price for loving her ‘Boria’, becoming a pawn in a highly political game and being imprisoned twice in Siberian labour camps because of
her association with him and his controversial work. Her story is one of unimaginable courage, loyalty, suffering, tragedy, drama and loss.
Drawing on both archival and family sources, Anna Pasternak reveals for the first time the critical role played by Olga Ivinskaya in Boris Pasternak’s life and argues that without her it is likely Doctor Zhivago would never have been completed or published.Writer Anna Pasternak is the great-granddaughter of Leonid Pasternak, the impressionist painter while Nobel Prize winning novelist Boris Pasternak was her great-uncle.
Each featured Guest Author will discuss their recently published book and take questions from the floor over afternoon tea. The Corsham Bookshop will be at the event selling copies of the featured books which the authors will sign.
Tickets to attend each English Afternoon Tea talk - starting at 3.30pm - are priced at £17.50 per person and reservations should be booked in advance with Bowood Hotel’s Reception. (Tel: 01249 822228). For more details on all these upcoming Bowood events, visit the website.
