Dorchester Literary Lectures 2009

The gap left in Dorchester’s life by the ending  of the Dorset County Museum’s annual series of Literary Lectures will this year be filled by a series of three lectures taking place in St Peter’s church (next door to the Museum) on Thursdays 1st, 15th and 22 October.  Three popular and well known speakers will be talking about two Dorset literary giants and a unique Dorset family.  

Dr David Grylls, a specialist in Victorian literature from Kellogg College Oxford and one of the most popular lecturers in the Museum’s past series, will be talking about Thomas Hardy and Religion. Was Hardy an atheist? Were his portrayals of the clergy taken from real life or were they indicative of Hardy’s own outlook? Come and hear what will be an informative, entertaining and interesting lecture on Thursday 1 October at 6.30pm.
Dr Alan Chedzoy, who needs no introduction, will be giving an illustrated lecture that combines not only Dorset literature but also acknowledges this year’s remembrance of Charles Darwin.  His title is ‘Charles Darwin and the evolution of William Barnes’, and this lecture will be a drawing together of three types of man – the scientist, the poet and the clergyman.  Thursday 15 October at 6.30pm.
Dr Morine Krissdottir, who is the internationally acclaimed authority on the three Powys writer brothers, will in her talk be dealing with the wider Powys family.  Their father, the Revd Charles Powys, was curate at St Peter’s church before his move to the parish of Montacute, and this lecture will deal with the family’s life in Dorchester – an examination of a lesser known aspect of that unusual family.  Thursday 22 October at 6.30pm.

Tickets are £5 for each lecture and will include refreshments afterwards.  For further information or to reserve tickets, telephone 01305 263757 or email jillm@waitrose.com (quoting ‘Tickets’).  Tickets will also be on sale in St Peter’s church on Sundays from September 13th, and will be available at the door before each lecture.