Saturday January 21st 11-12.30 at Kenilworth Books

This is a second edition of a book written for adults with dyslexic difficulties and those around them and has just been published by local author Vicki Goodwin.
It is a practical guide to the world of study and work for anyone with dyslexia – or for those around them who want to support them.

 ”I will be there to answer any questions or queries you may have about dyslexia and the book. The book offers chapters on the nature of dyslexia, reading and writing, self-esteem and motivation, numbers, memory and organisation. It concentrates on developing strategies for every-day life, work and study. I work as a dyslexia consultant mainly with adults and older students since taking early retirement from the Open University. You can contact me on  v.goodwin1@yahoo.co.uk“

E S Cole author of “Visiting Mum” a debut novel by this local author, will be signing copies of her book at Kenilworth Books on 10th December between 10.00am & midday. We look forward to seeing you there…

On Wednesday December 7th at 7pm

Miles McNair will be talking about his new book

‘Olive, Princess of Cumberland’

at Warwick Library. This event has been re-arranged for this date by

Warwick Books in conjunction with Warwick Library.

Olive Wilmot was brought up to believe she was the daughter of a Warwickshire artist and his wife, and the niece of a mysterious clergyman, Dr. James Wilmot, who was said to be in the ‘special confidence’ of King George III. At the age of 23, she was introduced to George Augustus, the dashing Prince of Wales, and their brief affair in 1805 resulted in the birth of a daughter, Caroline, who was immediately whisked away for adoption by ‘Special Agents’ from Windsor. This was just the first of a series of scandals that Olive became involved in, scandals that included an enigmatic relationship with the Earl of Warwick, an intimate association with Edward Duke of Kent, later to be the father of Queen Victoria, and even darker secrets involving the love life of young George III before he became King.

Olive was attractive, audacious, extremely sexy and highly intelligent; she was also extraordinarily well educated for a woman of her age. She was a talented artist in her own right and became a prolific author and journalist, but who was she really? After the death of her two mentors, she had to spend the rest of her life trying to solve the riddle of her true parentage, a journey that would involve numerous court cases, charges of fraud and forgery, and cover-ups and corruption in high places.

Based largely on previously unpublished sources, this book sets out to find solutions to the mysteries surrounding Olive’s scandalous life, while the final chapter reveals answers that have eluded all previous writers on this period of political unrest and uncertainties over the Royal succession.

‘What a riveting story you have uncovered, my eyes were out on stalks! I think you have a best-seller on your hands.’ Victoria Glendinning

The next book group meeting will be on November 23rd at 6.00pm at the Old Punchbowl Inn in Warwick.  The book we are reading is “The Book of Human Skin”  by Michelle Loveric.

This is an epic novel set in 18th and 19th century Venice. It features a strange young man, Minguilo Fasan, who’s determined to destroy his younger sister.

 ’This book is fabulous – funny, horrific and subversive’   Joanne Harris

(paperback edition £7.99 with 15% discount to book group members).

If you fancy coming along to our friendly group please don’t hesitate. You’ll be more than welcome.

On Wednesday 9th November 7pm at The Methodist Church Kenilworth, The Countess of Caernarvon talked about her new book ‘Lady Almina and the Story of the Real Downton Abbey’

1.2 million people watched the first series of Downton Abbey.  A new eight-part series started in October to be followed by a Christmas special on Boxing Day.   Downton Abbey is filmed at Highclere Castle, one of England’s most exquisite Victorian castles and the home of the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon.

 Lady Fiona Carnarvon – the 8^th Countess, told an audience of just under 100 people  the remarkable story behind the real Downton Abbey. It is a story that is even more fascinating than the fiction.

In 1894, Lady Almina, the nineteen year old illegitimate daughter of banking tycoon, Alfred de Rothschild, married into the Carnarvon family bringing an enormous fortune with her.  Lonely and miserable at first, she gradually won over society and her husband with her wit, brave spirit and fabulous dresses. She presided over a staff of over 90 people at Highclere.  When the First World War came, life at Highclere changed forever and they lost many of the men whose families had worked there for generations. (The current Head Gamekeeper’s great great-grandfather was the Head Gamekeeper in Almina’s day). Lady Almina persuaded her husband to allow her to turn Highclere into a hospital for wounded soldiers and personally saw that they received the highest standard of care. She also funded and supported her husband, the 5^th Earl of Carnarvon’s expeditions to Egypt.  In 1922 he discovered the tomb of Tutankhamen.

 The book  spans the time period covered by the first two series of Downton Abbey. The second series which begins in October will focus on the Great War.

Beautifully illustrated with original photographs, recipes, seating plans and instructions to the servants, Lady Carnarvon provides a rich and fascinating insight into what life was really like at Highclere, both upstairs and downstairs.

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