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Event 29

Thursday 6th November 2025 @ 2.00 pm

Event 29 | Ian Collins | Blythe Spirit

£14.00

Ian Collins – Blythe Spirit – The Remarkable Life of Ronald Blythe

Drawing on unparalleled access to letters, notebooks, published works, and conversations from decades of friendship, Ian Collins tells the full story of Ronald Blythe. Intimate, meditative and often laced with a wry humour, Blythe’s writing invited readers to share his enchanting perspective on the world. Yet the ‘real’ Ronald Blythe left school at 14, and educated himself in libraries, churches and walks in the East Anglian landscape. He experienced early poverty, wartime trauma, and his sexuality was kept private except from those closest to him. Collins’ book is a sensitive, revelatory portrait which celebrates a fascinating, complex man and casts new light on one of our greatest writers.

in conversation with Caroline Montagu

Priority booking – Become a Friend – Contact TIC Bridport to book tickets – 01308 424901

When: Thursday 6th November 2025 @ 2.00 pm
Where: The Bridport Arts Centre

Description

IAN COLLINS is a writer and curator. He has written numerous biographies and  monographs, including the Runciman Award-winning John Craxton: A Life of Gifts and James Dodds: The Blue Boat which won the Creative Suffolk Author  Award. He had a long career as an arts writer for the Eastern Daily Press and has worked with the Aldeburgh Festival, Sainsbury Centre in Norwich, British  Museum, Yale Center for British Art in New Haven, Benaki Museum in Athens  and Meşher Istanbul. He lives in Suffolk and Greece. 

Caroline Montagu has had a varied career. She and her husband John ran Mapperton for some 30 years. She was also a writer on Saudi Arabia, visiting the country two or three times a year for more than 30 years. She’s served on various committees over the period and now lives mostly in Dorset.

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