[dropcap type=”circle”]O[/dropcap]ne of modern literature’s leading lights will be in Heswall next week to sign copies of his latest work.
With novels like Northern Lights and the rest of the His Dark Materials trilogy, Philip Pullman has established himself as a writer who earns both critical and public acclaim. He has been described as “one of the 50 greatest British writers since 1945”.
Best known for his fantastic fictions set on extraordinary landscapes populated by remarkable characters ranging from witches to armour wearing polar bears with the power of speech, his books are thought provoking and very accessible.
He has attributed some of the attraction of fantasy to laziness, saying that the joy of building magical worlds is that precious little research is required – “I can just sit there and make everything up.”
Heswall Today was lucky enough to make a short film with Mr Pullman a few years ago in which he talks about how he sets about writing.
But Philip Pullman’s self deprecating streak can’t hide a fierce intelligence and a heart that is very much in the right place.
On Friday November 24 at 10 in the morning he will be at Linghams which, thanks to the clever initiatives of owner, Sue Porter, has established itself as one of the hottest venues to stage an out of London book launch – so much so that the shop is far too small for some of its events, leaving Thornton Hall Hotel or Thornton Manor to step into the breach for audiences with the likes of Damon Hill or Robert Harris.
The reason for Philip Pullman’s flying visit is his signing of copies of volume one of his new trilogy. The series is called The Book of Dust – the novel that has begun it is called La Belle Sauvage.
Tickets cost £20 for the signed book and spaces are limited, so to book your slot call Linghams Booksellers on 0151 342 7290.
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