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A Sort of Newsletter May 2019 Issue 78 A Sort of Newsletter IN THIS ISSUE THE NEWSLETTER OF THE Editorial GRAHAM GREENE BIRTHPLACE TRUST Festival Preview Review Editorial Our Man Down in Havana Doesn’t time fly? My memories of the 2018 Festival have scarcely In the News A few snippets faded (even at my age), and already the next one will soon be upon us. Festival Director Martyn Sampson has put together a superb Correspondence programme once again, and if it’s half as good as it looks, it will be Charles Henry Greene Greene and names splendid. Martyn’s own thorough Festival Preview is in this issue, so there is little to be said by me in addition. I would though repeat Miscellany Greene and Europe my message that the Festival is convivial and welcoming as well Brighton Rock blog as thought-provoking and engaging, so do get signed up. Come for GG Quiz Answers the whole Festival if you possibly can; encourage newcomers to A New Look give it a try; and make a special effort to get some folk half my age or less to come. February’s ASON featured Graham Greene’s father, Charles Henry Greene, twice. One was in a story about CH’s reaction to the Armistice in 1918; the other concerned a reference to him as a deeply unpopular headmaster. Nick Dennys, Greene’s nephew and Trust Patron, has taken up the cudgels on CH’s behalf, and you can see his fascinating remarks and research in this issue. A history of Berkhamsted School summarised CH’s contribution like this: ‘It may be that a school would hardly prosper if it had a whole series of headmasters of Charles Greene’s kind. But it is certain that Date for your Diary Berkhamsted even today is a better place for having had that This Year’s Festival: particular one.’ See what you think. 19 Sept – 22 Sept 2019 Mike Hill WEB SITE [email protected] Do not forget to visit the website of the Trust, at www.grahamgreenebt.org The Graham Greene Birthplace Trust (Charity Number 1064839), a member of the Berkhamsted Arts Trust. PATRONS: Caroline Bourget, Andrew Bourget, Nicholas Dennys, Louise Dennys, Lucy Saunders. Friday’s events will take place in the Town Hall, and begin Festival Preview with a talk from Lucinda Cummings-Kilmer. Lucinda was Reflections on Greene research assistant to Norman Sherry on volumes I and III of his authorised biography of Greene (1989, 1994 and Martyn Sampson 2004). Having worked at a minute level with Sherry’s Welcome to this 2019 Festival Preview. The events will thousands of documents, files and photographs, Lucinda take place in the beautiful historic market town of describes herself as ‘an acolyte to genius’. She believes Berkhamsted, birthplace and home town of Graham that Sherry set the bar for pursuits in literary detective Greene. There are several thematic strands to this year’s work. In her talk, ‘Greene & Sherry: The Fox & The Hound’, event, including Greene’s comic satirical masterpiece Our Lucinda will explore Sherry’s passion for Greene. This Man in Havana (1958), his international influences, and includes explorations of the lengths Sherry would go to, the art of literary detection in general. Our main theme is to both research Greene and then confirm the details of Reflections on Greene , after Judith Adamson’s edition of that research. She writes that whether ‘getting sick in the Greene’s essays, Reflections (1990, 2014). This is so as to jungle, mountains or tropics chasing Graham, Norman Lucinda Cummings-Kilmer reflect the quality of thematic diversity itself, which would, was a truth detector and suffered greatly for his art.’ perhaps, be embraced by Greene, an author whose Lucinda’s talk will be followed by a paper from Kevin polymathic nature and quality of writing are universally Ruane, Professor of Modern History at Canterbury Christ admired. Take the time to meet and find out more about Church University. His 2016 book, Churchill and the Bomb , each of our speakers, all of whom would welcome your was placed among the ‘books of the year’ by BBC History conversation and questions. Martyn Sampson Magazine , as well as The Times . Kevin will complete a hat On Thursday, the Festival begins with a walk that traces trick of Festival appearances, as he pursues his interests the footsteps of Greene. ‘Berkhamsted: The Greene Guide’ in Greene’s role as journalist and explorer of issues in the is authored by Brian Shepherd, who has written four other Indochina region. Kevin’s talk is called ‘“It was our Bible”: guides to walks in and around the area. The walk will US Vietnam War-era Reporters (1965-1975) and the feature readings from Brian, Richard Shepherd and Judy impact of Graham Greene’s The Quiet American ’. For Mead, and is a repeat of that of last year. This occasion Kevin, Greene’s short and easy-to-carry novel served as a lived up to its promise as a brilliant adventure through a vital tool for Vietnam War reporters. The text, in part, Kevin Ruane small, special part of Greeneland, where it all began. Do enabled them to understand how the United States found take the opportunity to join us for our Festival opener. itself at war in a region about which many knew little. David Halberstam, the Pulitzer Prize winning journalist The evening will commence with our traditional Festival and historian, stated that Greene’s novel ‘was our Bible.’ supper in the Town Hall, a two-course meal that will be followed by a screening of Twenty-One Days (1940). The Friday afternoon begins with an interview by Mark Lawson film is adapted by a short story from John Galsworthy, of Bryony Lavery and Esther Richardson, titled: ‘ Brighton and is directed by Basil Dean and scripted by Greene and Rock : Wrestling a Wonderful Story from out of a Book and Dean. Its stars are Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh. The onto the Stage.’ An original stage adaptation of Greene’s film is unusual in that it was criticised by its very own classic ‘Catholic’ novel about a teenage gang in Brighton scriptwriter, our man, Greene. Mike Hill will provide an toured the UK from February to May 2018. Scripted by introduction. As well as commenting on Greene’s film Bryony and directed by Esther, the play received wide reviewing generally, Mike will suggest that there are merits critical acclaim, and is innovative in placing particular to the film after all! Mike Hill emphasis on the character of Ida Arnold. She is the bold, brassy amateur detective who is preoccupied with Bryony Lavery 2 32 matters of ‘right and wrong’. The play received an Quixote (1982): ‘When you have been a priest as long as I excellent review from Mark, who addressed the Festival have you will recognize a colleague. Even without his in 2004. Mark will ask a diverse series of questions, whose collar.’ One of David’s core questions is: ‘What makes foci will include theme, plot, theatrics and dramaturgy. Graham Greene's priests so recognisable, even in disguise Bryony is a British dramatist especially known for her play, or when deeply erring?’ Frozen (1998). This won the TMA best play award and the Eileen Anderson Central Television award. Esther is Friday will conclude with a screening of Our Man in Artistic Director of Pilot Theatre, and her work includes Havana (1959), directed by Carol Reed, scripted by Noughts and Crosses , with Pilot Theatre & Derby Theatre, Greene, and starring Alex Guinness. The film will be and Everything Must Go! , with Soho Theatre. She has introduced by Quentin Falk, freelance film critic and made two successful film shorts, The Cake and the magazine editor for more than 35 years. Quentin is author sensational Wings , about a young person’s ambition to of the award-nominated Travels in Greeneland: The join the RAF Esther Richardson Cinema of Graham Greene , now in its fourth edition. Quentin Falk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ1aJrHfYXk). This Quentin will explore the seeds of both the book and the led to her selection for Creative England’s iFeatures film, and discuss, especially, the fascination concerning scheme in 2012/13. An esteemed critic, broadcaster and the timing of the filming. Shot, as the film was, in Cuba novelist, Mark is best known for presenting Front Row on just after the Castro revolution, the action is set during the BBC Radio 4. He writes for the Guardian and presents the Batista regime. Quentin will also comment on the series Mark Lawson Talks To . on BBC Four. He has differences between past and contemporary viewings of twice been TV Critic of the Year. the film. Concluding the talks on Friday will be The David Pearce Events on Saturday will take place in Berkhamsted School, Memorial Talk. This is an annual occasion to mark the starting with a presentation by Dr Chris Hull and Dr James legacy of the late David Pearce, and to remember the work Clifford Kent: ‘Vicious Cities: Shadows of The Third Man of many other wonderful individuals who have died. David in Our Man in Havana .’ Chris is Senior Lecturer in Spanish was a founding Trustee and an English Master at and Latin American Studies at the University of Chester. Berkhamsted School. Director of five Graham Greene He recently published Our Man Down in Havana: The Story International Festivals, David made a significant Mark Lawson Behind Graham Greene’s Cold War Spy Novel . James is Chris Hull contribution to the life of the Birthplace Trust and to the Lecturer in Hispanic Studies at Royal Holloway, University town of Berkhamsted.
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