Of all the ancient art that captures the imagination, none is more appealing than the Cycladic figurine. An air of mystery swirls around these statuettes from the Bronze Age and they are highly sought after by collectors – and looters – alike. In her new novel
Victoria Hislop shines a light on the questionable acquisition of cultural treasures and the price people, and countries, will pay to cling on to them.
She says: ‘I have been down a long and exciting path to write
The Figurine. I admired the beauty of the Cycladic figurine for many years and began to understand what a huge influence they had on 20
th century art. I also began to realise that their beauty has an irresistible and seductive power and wanted to write about the crime that such beauty and antiquity can drive people to. My story is set during the period of the Junta, an army dictatorship that committed many crimes, effectively robbing people of their lives and driving others into exile. To me there seemed to be a striking parallel. I hope readers will be pulled into this period of history, and the question of where something, or someone, really belongs.’
Victoria Hislop in conversation with Sally Laverack
Copies of
The Figurine can be purchased in paperback with a 10% discount prior to the event, from The Bookshop, South Street, Bridport.
Become a friend.
| When: Wednesday 18th Sep 2024 @ 2.30pm
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| Where: Electric Palace |
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Of all the ancient art that captures the imagination, none is more appealing than the Cycladic figurine. An air of mystery swirls around these statuettes from the Bronze Age and they are highly sought after by collectors – and looters – alike. In her new novel Victoria Hislop shines a light on the questionable acquisition of cultural treasures and the price people, and countries, will pay to cling on to them. She says: ‘I have been down a long and exciting path to write The Figurine. I admired the beauty of the Cycladic figurine for many years and began to understand what a huge influence they had on 20th century art. I also began to realise that their beauty has an irresistible and seductive power and wanted to write about the crime that such beauty and antiquity can drive people to. My story is set during the period of the Junta, an army dictatorship that committed many crimes, effectively robbing people of their lives and driving others into exile. To me there seemed to be a striking parallel. I hope readers will be pulled into this period of history, and the question of where something, or someone, really belongs.’ Victoria Hislop in conversation with Sally Laverack Copies of The Figurine can be purchased in paperback with a 10% discount prior to the event, from The Bookshop, South Street, Bridport. Become a friend.
WAYNE SLEEP is undoubtedly one of our nation’s treasures – a legendary dancer and entertainer. In his memoire: JUST DIFFERENT, Wayne looks back on the extraordinary times he has lived through. In spite of dancing with ballet legends Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn, partying with Freddie Mercury and dancing with Princess Diana, who became a close friend, Wayne Sleep has always felt like an outsider. Behind the glitz and glamour, he reveals the difficulties for a working-class, gay man in handling the prejudices of his generation and living through the Aids epidemic. In conversation with writer and broadcaster, Natalie Wheen Wayne Sleep will convey the many moving and laugh-out-loud stories and gossip on his way to success, fulfilment and love. Become a friend.