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Belmont House

Ian McMillan presents Radio 3's cabaret of the word from Belmont House in Lyme Regis, the former home of novelist John Fowles. With guests including Annie Freud and Wildwood Kin.

This week The Verb comes from Belmont House in Lyme Regis, the former home of the best selling novelist John Fowles.

Belmont House is an 18th century maritime villa that has recently been restored to its original appearance by the Landmark Trust. The villa was owned by the businesswoman Mrs Eleanor Coade, and more recently by the writer John Fowles, who set his famous novel 'The French Lieutenant's woman in Lyme Regis.

Ian's guests include the up and coming folk trio Wildwood Kin, who have been attracting attention for their close-harmony vocals. Sisters Beth and Emillie Key and their cousin Meghann Loney are working on their debut album and perform songs inspired by writers such as CS Lewis and Tolkien.

Professor of Contemporary Literature and Thought at Royal Holloway Robert Eaglestone examines the changing fortunes of John Fowles literary reputation.

Jane Feaver is a prose writer whose novels try to find the human in the landscape. She says finding the authentic voice of a place can be harder for the outsider, but it also allows a writer to observe things that people who have lived there all their lives might not see.

The poet Annie Freud's latest collection is 'The Remains' (Picador), a book inspired by the china she found whilst digging her Dorset garden.

Producer: Cecile Wright.

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 26 Feb 2016 22:00

Caroline Stanford

Caroline Stanford

Caroline Stanford is the Landmark Trust’s Historian. She takes Ian on a tour of Belmont House and its garden overlooking The Cobb at Lyme Regis.

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Robert Eaglestone

Robert Eaglestone

Robert Eaglestone, Professor of Contemporary Literature and Thought at Royal Holloway, University of London examines John Fowles’ literary legacy, from his first novel The Collector to his famous bestseller The French Lieutenant’s Woman, an experimental novel which has inspired Neo-Victorianism today.Ìý

Jane Feaver

Jane Feaver

The novelist Jane Feaver explains how she attempts to translate the Landscape in her writing and reads from her novel set in a small Devon Village, ‘An Inventory of Heaven’ (Corsair). She also examines the South West Landscape in the writing of Thomas Hardy and Jane Austen.

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Wildwood Kin

Wildwood Kin

The Folk Trio Wildwood Kin grew up surrounded by music, and they write songs inspired by their background. They also unpick the song writing process that leads to their beautiful close harmonies.

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Annie Freud

Annie Freud

The poet and artist Annie Freud lives in Dorset. She tells Ian how she felt compelled to write her latest collection, ‘The Remains’ (Picador), as well as produce the artwork that accompanies the poems. ÌýShe also celebrates the work of the poet Jack Clemmo, who wrote about the disappearing industrial landscape of the South West.

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  • Fri 26 Feb 2016 22:00

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