The Carmen Talk: The Story of Women’s Friendships on the Page (In person)
Legendary publisher, Virago, in honour of their pioneering founder Carmen Callil, bring their lecture series The Carmen Talks to The London Library. The second in a series of five, this talk by Rachel Cooke – one of Callil’s great friends, a Virago author and editor of the recently published The Virago Book of Friendship – takes a fascinating look at companionship and solidarity between women in literature. She asks how is it that the story of such friendships remained unsung, misinterpreted and even belittled for so long? Literary anthologies and histories have not given them their due; yet women’s friendships are as central to literature as marriage and romantic plots. Rachel Cooke champions and shows us the way that women depend on and celebrate their companionship through books – both on and off the page – and not least in Virago volumes.
Rachel Cooke, award-winning journalist and author, writes for the Observer and is the television critic of the New Statesman. She’s published Her Brilliant Career: Ten Extraordinary Women of the Fifties; Kitchen Person: Notes on Cooking & Eating and The Virago Book of Friendship.
The Virago Book of Friendship will be available to buy at the event and online from our partner bookshop Hatchards.
NB This event will take place in person at The London Library. Doors (and the bar) open at 6.30pm, the talk will run from 7-8pm and the bar will close at 8.30pm. Tickets include a glass of wine.
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