![]() It concerns refugees from the Spanish Civil War who escape the fascist regime in September 1939 and flee to Chile via France on a ship called the Winnipeg, in an operation organised by the legendary Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, who felt his nation had a duty to support those fleeing the terror in Spain. Only 6 months ago, and yet it feels like a lifetime.Ī Long Petal of the Sea is Isabel Allende’s twentieth novel and, as with many of her works, is based on the true story of a close friend of hers. ![]() Isabel Allende probably would not even have embarked on an international promotional tour. A few weeks later and it would have been cancelled. Nobody was wearing a face mask nor using hand sanitiser and the Coronavirus seemed like a thing that was happening far away and not at all like a real threat. The excited spectators queued on the stairs, we sat next to strangers and laughed out loud, a microphone was passed around the audience. The evenings were still dark and the weather was cold. I saw Isabel Allende in conversation with Jeanette Winterson at The Dancehouse in Manchester as part of the Manchester Literature Festival. ![]() ![]() ![]() My last live cultural experience before lockdown was introduced in the UK was on February 11th. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |