Author put on spot at Swindon Festival of Literature

The 31-year-old was talking about his new book, Together – How Small Groups Achieve Big Things, in front of an audience of about 50 on the second day of the 18th Swindon Festival of Literature.

The Londoner, whose book analyses the power of small groups over a period of three years, said he had enjoyed taking part in the festival.

“I have loved today, there were some really sharp thinking questions,” he said.

“I always enjoy talks ouside London more than talks within. I think the nature of this book doesn’t make things here feel strange, for the research I have been travelling around – I was often driving past Swindon.”

Henry spoke about the increase in small groups, group dynamics, the power of the internet in keeping groups going, and the sense of belonging people get from belonging to a group – all of which he discusses in his book.

“When we come together in small groups either to protest or indulge an interest generally we make that thing longer and do so for longer and make friends along the way,” Henry told the audience.

“I hope if you get your hands on the book you have as much fun reading it as I did writing it.”

Festival organiser Matt Holland said he invited Henry to speak at the festival as soon as he found out about his work.

“This has become more a festival of ideas than just literature. I love events that explore and challenge,” he said.

“I scour publishers, catalogues and other festivals looking for what I think has interesting ideas and the kind of thing men and women like to chat about.

“One of the things I know they chat about is ‘what can we do?’ ‘how can we do it?’. Time and time again people think because we’re small it won’t work, that’s not the case.

“I just felt Swindon is exactly the kind of place where there are lots of small groups doing amazing things.This literature festival was born out of a very small five person poetry group.”

Audience member Sue Webber, of Old Town, said she always attends the festival. “It sparks interest, discussion and debate,” said Sue, who was with friend Virgina Griffin.

“I always like it because it’s the discussions you have afterwards with friends who either have or haven’t been to things.”

WAVES OF APPRECIATION FOR GAVIN PRETOR-PINNEY

IT WAS a second appearance at the Swindon Festival of Literature for cloud specialist Gavin Pretor-Pinney.

But this time the author of the best-selling book, The Cloudspotter’s Guide, who appeared at the festival a few years ago, was speaking about his new publication, The Wavewatcher’s Companion.

Gavin had the audience in the palm of his hand as he shared anecdotes and research about different types of waves and how they work.

“It’s great to be back in Swindon. I came here more than three years ago – that time I was talking about clouds, it’s waves today but there will be a couple of appearances from clouds,” he said.

Gavin said he was inspired to write about waves after watching them on the north coast of Cornwall.

“I thought it would be quite interesting to write a book about waves. Both clouds and waves are ways of legitimising doing absolutely nothing,” he said.

“You’re always thinking you have got to be achieving something, an excuse to stop and do nothing is good.

The audience heard about waves that are used by animals to move, as well as microwaves, waves in the sea and even Mexican waves.

“These waves are waves that are seen, heard and felt but rarely noticed,” he said.

Jenny and John Remington, of St Andrew's Ridge, were listening to the talk and said they decided to come after seeing him on a BBC programme.

“I’m a big fan of his work, I just like clouds and he is just a nice fellow. He says it so well,” said Jenny.

They have been coming to the festival for eight years and John said they always find the talks very interesting. Emma Dunn

THIS IS CERTAINLY NO PLAIN JANE

THE story starts with a raid by Barbary pirates on a church service in Penzance – and it ends in present day Morocco, following a perilous night on a mountain and love with a handsome Berber tribesman.

Jane Johnson, pictured right, may write fiction, but she uses fact as her foundation stone, as the audience at the Central Library found out last night.

Jane’s Cornish roots led to her discovery of the pirate raid in 1625, and the seeds of a novel were sown.

Research – and a passion for climbing – took her to Morocco, where she met restaurateur Abdel, who became her husband and the couple now divide their time between North Africa and West Cornwall.

It’s a fascinating story in itself, and Jane’s engaging and unassuming style of talking had her audience hooked.

She is a versatile writer but has now found her niche in historical fiction, and clearly loves her work – as well as her own personal adventure that has gone before it. Stephen Webb

WHAT'S ON

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• Sex, glamour and ambition in the 18th century are what Dr Kate Williams, broadcaster and author of England’s Mistress, will be discussing at the Arts Centre at 12.30pm.

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• Also at the Arts Centre, at 6.30pm, is James Geary, who will talk about how much the metaphor is used in our language.

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• Historical novelist Simon Scarrow makes an appearance at the West Swindon Library at 7pm. His latest novel, The Legion, follows the fortunes of two heroes of the Roman Empire in Egypt.

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• Sport Thought and Talk will do what it says on the tin, with four speakers covering a variety of sporting topics at the Arts Centre at 8pm. For more information on the festival, visit www.swindonfestivalofliterature.co.uk, or call 01793 466454.