How a novel was born: Jake Wallis Simons is guest author at Chobham Festival’s ChobLit 2015 talking about the genesis of his awardwinning The English German Girl.
The story of young Rosa Klein immerses us in the reality of being Jewish in 1930s Germany and a child’s experience of escaping to a foreign land on the Kindertransport.
Jake will talk about the moving reaction to the book and the sequel he is working on.
Wednesday 30th September
ChobLit Tickets are £7.50 including drinks reception (or £23 to include lunch afterwards)
St Lawrence Church, Chobham, 12 noon
Jake’s books will be on sale
Box office: 01276 858552
festival.chobham.org
Book now to hear this literary inside story
Jake Wallis Simons has reported from all over the world. Meet the Settlers, his digital documentary for The Telegraph about the Israelis who live on the West Bank, won the European Newspapers Award.
He has worked as a writer for The Times, and presented documentaries for BBC Radio 4, where he has reported frequently on From Our Own Correspondent.
Jake is a regular commentator on television and radio, including Sky, CNN, and the BBC. A first class degree from Oxford, was followed by a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia. Jake is a Visiting Fellow at Bournemouth University.
This is what Jake Wrote
Rosa Klein is The English German Girl and this is the story of how she is put on a Kindertransport train by her desperate parents so she can escape the anti-Jewish terror of 1930s Berlin and start a new life in England. The book won the Jerwood Fiction Uncovered prize.
“Fascinating and moving.” – Monica Ali “A powerful evocation of a bygone era.” – Sir Martin Gilbert
Jam, brings together characters from contemporary Britain snarled together in an M25 jam. The Pure is about a disaffected Israeli secret service agent. The Exiled Times of a Tibetan Jew creates a fictional Tibeto-Jewish refugee community in London.
“Here is a new young voice in British fiction - entertaining, provocative and original. Jake Wallis Simons will surely prove a name to remember.” - Beryl Bainbridge
ChobLit eXtra
Chobham writer Sally Blackmore and friends reading poetry and prose at the Festival Café. Saturday 3rd October, 3pm in the Church Hall. Annabel Bygrave, 11-year-old finalist in BBC Radio 2’s 500 Words 2015 competition, will read her story, The Forgotten Celery. This is a Free event, starts 3pm but come early to order tea and cake.
Another festival event
Ribbons of Time A village play written and produced by Liz Beck, Ribbons tells Chobham’s story through the ages, from way back then to right here and now. Saturday 10th October St Lawrence Church, 2.30pm and 7.30pm
Ribbons tickets are £5
Box office: 01276 858552
festival.chobham.org
