A salon evening with Man Booker shortlisted author Sarah Hall.
Saturday, 8th May 2010 at 7.30pm
Peirene Premises, London N19
The guests of the fifth Peirene Salon witnessed a riveting dialogue between Faber author Sarah Hall (right) and literary editor Suzy Feay from the Financial Times (left). They discussed Sarah’s development as an author across her four novels. The subjects they touched upon included the significance of being short listed for the Booker prize, the structure of Sarah's latest novel “How to paint a dead man”, the aesthetics of the English language and the joys – and challenges – of writing sex scenes. It was an hour of mesmerizing conversation with these two experts and shapers of contemporary English literature.
"Reading at the Peirene Salon is a wonderfully unique and intimate experience. It is quite unlike any other venue, a truly independent and literary arena, and one has the sense of being as close to that original idea of artistic and cultural exchange as it is possible in the modern age. " Sarah Hall
"The Peirene Salon is a unique experience for book lovers - a delightful, informal evening that combines readings, conversation, food and wine in an intimate setting that blurs the boundaries between reader and writer. The friendliest salon in London." Suzi Feay
"On Saturday I was at a gathering that really did deserve the word [salon]: an evening in a private, domestic setting that included a reading, good wine, gossip, mad ideas, chance encounters, everything except a chaise longue." Charles Boyle
"Thanks so much for inviting me - such a fun and fascinating evening. I do hope I'll be able to come again." Jonathan Ruppin, Foyles
"Many thanks for the salon, which was delightful: cosy yet stimulating, and highly convivial." Emily Jeremiah
The salon was attended by (in alphabetical order):Timothy Ades (translator),. Cath Ames-Blackaby, Oli Ames-Blackaby, Mark Balcar (British Council) and one guest, Nina Bennett, Charles Boyle (publisher), Margaret Bluman, Jeremy Chandler, Edith Chandler, John Charvet (emeritus professor, LSE), Loretta Cloud and guest, Mark Crick (author) and guest, Michael Geoghegam (European Book Sales), Ben Fortna (SOAS), Imogen Forster (translator), Sarah Fortna, Marcella Frisani and guest, Digby Halsby (Flint PR), Emily Jeremiah (lecturer in German, Royal Holloway University), Elisa Kaczynska-Nay (University of Oxford), Nina Kilham (author), Maren Meinhardt (TLS) and guest, Jay Merrill (author), Lucia Miarka (German Embassy), Julian Preece (Professor in German, Swansea University) and guest, Jonathan Rupin (web editor, Foyles)
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Sarah Hall is a novelist who writes like a poet. Her language is absolutely beautiful. Her latest novel How to Paint a Dead Man acts like a drug. Each time I put the book down, I couldn’t wait to get back to those rich phrases, written with such apparent ease.
Sarah was born in 1974 in Cumbria and published her first novel Hameswater in 2002. It immediately won the 2003 Commonwealth Writers Prize. Her second novel, The Electric Michalangelo (2004) was short listed for the Man Booker Prize and her third novel The Carhullan Army (2007) was awarded the John Llewellyn-Rhys Memorial Prize. “How to Paint a Dead Man” is her fourth novel and was published last year.
I am delighted to welcome Sarah to our next Peirene salon and hear her read those stunning sentences in her own voice.
“She has a poet’s feel for original language and imagery.” The Guardian
“Her prose is rich, clear, cold, full of images and immensely sensual.” The Times
“Her gorgeously embellished prose compels the narrative … the effect is intoxicating.” Financial Times
Please book early by phoning 0207 6861941 or email: meike.ziervogel@peirenepress.com.
We request an £8/ per person donation towards the artists' fees. Wine, potato salad, cheese and cake will be served after the reading.