Ronald Blythe (1922-2023) lived all his life in East Anglia and is considered one of the greatest writers on the English countryside.
Ian Collins, a close friend of Blythe’s, will be joining us for this very special event on Friday 15th November, in partnership with Red Lion Books, to celebrate the launch of his book Blythe Spirit: The Remarkable Life of Ronald Blythe.
Drawing on unparalleled access to letters, notebooks, published works, drafts, and conversations from decades of friendship, Collins tells the full story of Ronald Blythe for the first time. The result is a sensitive, revelatory portrait which celebrates a fascinating, complex man and casts new light on one of our greatest writers.
This event will take place in the Old Library at Colchester Town Hall, where Blythe worked for 10 years as a reference librarian and where he founded the Colchester Literary Society.
Ian Collins will be in conversation with Essex Book Festival Director, Ros Green, who grew up in Charsfield in East Suffolk in 1960s and 1970s: the inspiration for Ronald Blythes’s Penguin Classic Akenfield: Portrait of an English Village.
Find out more about this event and book tickets at essexbookfestival.org.uk/event/blythe-spirit/.