Bill's Dunnett Blog

Greetings from Edinburgh where January has so far been crisp and cold but surprisingly sunny.

I should first mention the problems I’ve been dealing with on the website recently. A few weeks ago we set up a facility for customers to collect web orders from our branches. Unfortunately this complicated setup had a rather subtle but nasty bug in it and under certain circumstances the internal checking routines (which determine if changes have been made to the order or if there are any internal inconsistencies in the details supplied) could be falsely triggered and required the user to press the final checkout button twice instead of once. As a result some people were fooled into thinking they had placed orders when they in fact hadn’t. I hope none of you have been caught by this bug, but if any of you have then my apologies for it. We’ve now completely redesigned the checkout system and we think it’s now easier to use than before so at least some good has come of it, but it’s been a fairly fraught couple of weeks trying to make it foolproof.

Game of Kings Audiobook

As you’ll remember from the last newsletter I was in contact with Howes back in October about obtaining copies of the Game of Kings audiobook at a price that would allow us to sell it to you. I received over 50 replies from people interested either in it or in possible further releases from the series, and set up a little mini-newsletter to keep them informed of progress, and armed with their requests I was able to encourage Howes to look favourably at recording more of the LC and to do a deal with them for 50 copies of GK. As I mentioned last time, they are mainly geared for supplying the library market and normally only sell around 250-300 of a successful title so this order stretched them somewhat. I received the first 32 copies in mid-December and gave the people who had responded the first chance of buying them, which seemed only fair since it was their information that had allowed me to do the deal. The remaining 18 have taken a while to arrive but have just now appeared this week. 4 were already reserved but the remaining 14 are available for anyone who would like one. They are priced at UKP 57.95 (plus VAT for anyone in the UK)
They can be ordered through the website – There is a hotlink from the Bibliography page and the Book News page, or alternatively, depending on your email program, you may get a clickable hotlink on the following line
http://www.jamesthin.co.uk/stocksearch/order/item?1841970794
which will take you straight in to the ordering process.

Note that you’ll see the price including 171/2% VAT on the order screen – don’t worry about this. If you’re outside the UK you won’t have to pay it. It’s our equivalent of a Sales Tax and is common in the EU countries. Books don’t attract VAT in the UK so it isn’t normally an issue, but cassettes do even if they are audiobooks.

Whispering Gallery and the Dorothy Dunnett Readers Association

As some of you will know the most recent issue of Whispering Gallery magazine saw a change in organisation. The old Dorothy Dunnett Foundation was wound up after the Edinburgh Gathering and a new body – the Dorothy Dunnett Readers Association was formed to continue the production of the magazine and co-ordinate further Dunnett related activities. I was invited to serve on the steering committee and we’ve had a couple of meetings to decide things like the constitution, applications for charitable status, and the date and organisation of the first AGM. Subscribers to the magazine are automatically members of the DDRA.

That issue of WG contained the first instalments of some of the talks and presentations which took place at the Edinburgh Gathering last summer, and the next issue, which is due out around the end of February, will continue this. If you aren’t currently a subscriber and are interested in becoming one then you can still obtain information and a form from Michael Joseph who have agreed to continue acting as the link for another year. The address is:

Whispering Gallery, c/o Michael Joseph Editorial, 27 Wright’s Lane, London, W8 5TZ

If you don’t need information but just want to send your subscription straight away then you can send it to:

The Editor, Whispering Gallery, 9 Gillespie Crescent, Edinburgh, EH10 4HT

from whom it is also possible to obtain back issues where available. WG is issued 4 times a year and a year’s subscription costs UKP 17.00 within the UK, UKP 18.50 in EU countries, and UKP 21.00 for outside Europe. Cheques *must* be made payable to the Dorothy Dunnett Readers Association, and not to anyone else.

Annual General Meeting

The first AGM of the DDRA will be held on Saturday 21st April 2001 at the Point Hotel, Bread Street, Edinburgh, and there will also be a mini-gathering with talks from Pauline Brace and Elspeth Morrison. Only DDRA members can attend the AGM in the morning but guests are welcome to attend the rest of the day – the cost of which is UKP 20.00 – and there are still some places left. The hotel’s conference centre is contained in what is basically a large glass box on the roof of the hotel, and it has superb views to the nearby castle and over the New Town to the sea.

There is an optional coach tour on the Sunday to the west of Scotland to visit Dean Castle, home of the Boyd family, where Ann MacMillan will be giving a presentation. The return trip will be via Lochwinnoch and will get back to Edinburgh around 6pm. This trip will cost UKP 22.00 including buffet lunch, and places are restricted by the numbers that the castle can take, so it’s strictly first come first served.

Anyone who can stay till the Monday may wish to visit Roslin where Joy Madden will be happy to show them round.

I’ll post fuller details (as they appeared in the last issue of the magazine) on the web pages in the next couple of days.

Other Dunnett activities

I’m always happy to mention any other Dunnett activity – large or small – so do get in touch if you’re organising anything and I’ll set up a diary of events on the site. I know there are some other events coming up but don’t want to mention them without the organisers say-so in case numbers are limited and it would cause them more work.

One small event in Australia is a “Revel” (a much nicer sounding name than Spit!) which is taking place in Victoria. Here are the details:

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Dorothy Dunnett Anniversary Revel
Saturday, 3rd March 2001, 11am to 3pm
John Medley Library, Campus Centre (building 10), Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia

DD readers who can get to Melbourne on Saturday 3/3/2001 have an alternative to the Formula One Grand Prix to go to. You are all invited to have an informal chat with likeminded (or not!) fans of Dorothy Dunnett, with relevant books, music, and videos to view and discuss. We can buy something to eat right there in the same building, or BYO, and we will have the library to ourselves, as it is not normally open at weekends. People who missed DD last year can meet those who had the privilege of meeting her – just pop in briefly, or stay longer, as you wish.

A $5 donation to the library would be appreciated from each visitor, for new books etc.!

Anyone who would like to attend, please e-mail Jenny Lee at jencathlee@hotmail.com, or call on (03) 9704 6292.
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A Visit to the Scottish National Gallery

Last weekend on my way down to the gym for some much-needed exercise, I went along to the Scottish National Gallery. While the main purpose was to visit the Turner watercolours exhibition which is on during January each year and was this year augmented by a visiting Turner oils exhibition, I also took the opportunity to spend some more time looking at the regular displays – and in particular the Trinity College Church Altarpiece paintings on the upper floor. These are of course from the same church where Nicholas sings so movingly as to bring Adorne to tears and were commissioned by Edward Bonkill who is portrayed in one of the pictures flanked by angels (one of whom looks rather like I imagine Catherine de Charetty!).

While I’d seen them some time ago, it was before becoming a DD reader and although I’d seen photos of them since, I’d forgotten just how large and impressive they are. They are set at the end wall of the room and are mounted on two large swivels so that both sides can be viewed, and I was interested to read that although it is generally accepted that they were part of a triptych that later lost its centrepiece during the Reformation, there is also an alternative suggestion that they may instead have formed the covering shutters for the organ.

Just to the left of them is a small painting showing the Trinity College Church as it was before it was removed to make way for Waverley Railway Station and it does look an interesting piece of architecture – rather more so than the rebuilt remnant which is now situated in a close off the High St. (Later in the gallery bookshop I noticed that there is a book on the paintings which discusses their provenance and history and which has sketches of the interior of the church, though unfortunately only black and white photos of the paintings themselves.)

Further to the left was another pleasant surprise – a large portrait of Lord Grey of Wilton. He is depicted as being a striking figure with a long face and even longer beard – not at all how I’d imagined him.

The Gallery has a great many Flemish paintings in various parts of the building and I’ve looked at a number of them for clues to clothing styles or searching for familiar names, and moving in the other direction from the Altarpiece I came across one that stopped me in my tracks. A minor 15th century piece described as “A married woman of Bruges” it was of an attractive woman with what looked likely to be fair hair and dressed in expensive black, and it fairly screamed GELIS!! to me. I must ask Dorothy if she knows it (I’m sure she does) and if it had any influence or was just a happy coincidence.
Interesting New Books

As long time readers will know I don’t often recommend books (other than Dorothy’s!!) in this newsletter as I feel that would be liable to turn them into a mere advertising vehicle, which is not the prime intention. However there have been a number of very interesting ones which have come out in the time since the last newsletter, or are just about to appear, which just cry out to be mentioned. In particular are titles on the Rough Wooings and John Dee.

Four are recently published and easily the most interesting for Lymond fans is

The Rough Wooings: Mary Queen of Scots, 1542-1551
Marcus Merriman
Tuckwell Press, Jan 2001
hdbk, 186232090X UKP 25.00
(my blurb in the Scottish web pages) The period in which both England and France sought to capture Scotland by a forced marriage of the child Queen Mary is amongst the most colourful and interesting of our history, and had repercussions that are still felt to this day. This detailed study of the intense warfare and negotiations between the three countries is a major contribution to our understanding of it.

Although I haven’t had time to read this properly yet it is obvious from a quick perusal that a great deal of research has gone into it and I’ll be reading it as soon as I can. Suddenly the English incursions into the Borders and almost as far as Edinburgh take on a new meaning when you “know” the commanders from reading GK.
For anyone who is interested in the political background to the HN as it pertains to France, Scotland and England:

Border Bloodshed
Alastair J MacDonald
Tuckwell Press, Dec 2000
pbk 186232106X £16.99
(my blurb) A study of the military offensives between Scotland, England and France between 1369 and 1403.

There is sometimes a tendency is to see British history as being cut off from the rest of Europe but Dorothy constantly reminds us that everything is connected and interdependent. This book traces the complex political and military dealings that went on between these three countries as they strove to use alliances and treaties between each other to their advantage, thus setting up the situations we see in HN and LC
John Knox
Rosalind Marshall
Birlinn, Oct 2000
pbk 1841580910 UKP 9.99
(my blurb) A new analysis of one of the central characters of the Reformation by this noted biographer. A balanced picture of 16th century Scotland against the backdrop of sweeping changes all across Europe allows us to see something of the real Knox and his beliefs instead of the myths and legends which have grown up around him.

I know that a number of you have discussed Knox on the various discussion groups before, but there is so much social and religious mythology about him that it’s been hard to get a proper perspective. This book by the same woman who wrote the biography of Mary that we publish and which is featured on the web pages goes a long way to stripping away those myths.
More specialised but possibly of interest to anyone who is interested in the Borders area is:

Safe Sanctuaries: Security and Defence in Anglo-Scottish Border Churches 1296-1603
Christopher Brooke
John Donald, Oct 2000
hdbk 0859765350 UKP 25.00
(my blurb) The first detailed study of the unique fortified churches of the Borders. The author has visited every major church or site in the original 6 marches of the border area and researched all the supporting dicumentary evidence to produce a comprehensive survey of these historically important buildings.
Another one for Lymond readers is due to be published in April (though for some reason Books in Print thinks it came out last September!). There is some confusion over the title – it’s either called “Pursuit of Angels” or “The Queen’s Conjuror” depending on which of the publisher’s catalogues you read!?

Pursuit of Angels:
The Science and Magic of Dr Dee
Benjamin Woolley
Harper Collins
0002571390
hardback, 320pp UKP 15.99
(publishers blurb) A spellbinding portrait of Queen Elizabeth’s conjuror, the great philosopher, scientist and magician, Dr John Dee (1527-1608) and a history of Renaissance science.
Finally, one that is much more specialist but perhaps worth mentioning while I’m doing the others in case anyone can find it in a library. It does give an interesting picture of what country life was really like in the areas near the Borders and puts the day to day living of Wat Scott and Kate Sommerville and their tenants in perspective.

The Harvest of the Hills: Rural Life in Northern England and the Scottish Borders, 1400-1700
Angus J.L. Winchester
Edinburgh University Press, October 2000
pbk, 1853312398 £19.99
A study of the environmental history of rural life in the Border, Lake District and Pennine hills, utilising the records of the Manor Courts to build up a picture of pastoral society and illustrate the transition from medieval to early-modern farming methods.

Rosslyn Chapel and the Knights Templar

Many of you have expressed an interest in Rosslyn Chapel following it’s appearance in the HN, and I’ve previously mentioned their excellent official web site at http://www.rosslynchapel.org.uk The chapel is chock full of incredible carvings and masonic symbolism and has unfortunately become the focus for a great deal of quasimysticism and some truly awful books and theories. There are those who believe the Holy Grail is buried beneath its vaults, and those who think it is a “gateway to another world”. I’m sure there must have been some good books with useful research which have suffered from being tarred with the brush of “another looney book about Rosslyn”.

One of our partner sites is called Electric Scotland, and Alastair MacIntyre who runs it came across an abridged version of a new book called “The Secret Scroll” in his local newspaper and enjoyed it so much he put it up on his site for his readers.

He continues:
“The historian Andrew Sinclair is acclaimed as one of the world’s foremost experts on the story of the Holy Grail. A founding fellow of Churchill College, Cambridge, he has taught and travelled widely across the world. In his new book, he draws on years of research to explain the importance of a discovery that he believes holds the key to the Grail mystery and much else besides. It is a story that combines religious heresy, Masonic secrets, and the bloodthirsty adventures of the Crusades.”

Notice the author’s surname!! Again I haven’t had time to delve too deeply but this one looks interesting and it’s certainly worth reading the extract even if you find some of the theories too much to believe. It’s at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/kt12.htm
By coincidence the Scotsman had a feature about Sinclair yesterday morning – doubtless to tie in with the book’s launch.

After writing the above section yesterday I’ve just been told that we’re making the book our Scottish Book of the Month because of the interest it has generated!
Finally, for those of you who are interested in general Scottish history and archaeology (I know there are one or two of you!!) I’ve just finished a complete reorganisation of our Scottish History section into separate chronological sections based on a timeline divided into 8 different periods, plus separate sections for general histories, references, specific peoples and places that fall outwith the main chronology, and emigration. Of all my correspondents you folks will be best qualified to judge its effectiveness so please take a look at it and let me know what you think. I’ve one or two little improvements still to make but it’s pretty much ready to view now. It’s under the Scottish Non-Fiction section or go direct to www.jamesthin.co.uk/schist.htm (although that will miss out the sidebar navigation scheme).

That’s all for now. I hope to have some more “Answers from Dorothy” for the next newsletter.

Best wishes to you all.

Bill

The Edinburgh Gathering

Before we knew that Niccolo 8 would be called Gemini, the mock title given by some inspired or perhaps psychic fans was Gemini Triumphant – the Edinburgh 2000 Gathering could well have been called Gathering Triumphant as it turned out to be a roaring success and greatly enjoyed by everyone who attended.

This newsletter is devoted to a report of the Gathering but before going into details I’d just like to send greetings to everyone I met and thank everyone who I had a chance to talk to for their kind words both about my own efforts and about my mum’s health (she’s improving but probably won’t regain her speech, although there is still hope that her paralysis may ease a little). There was little time available for much more than brief chats, and there were probably a lot of people who I didn’t manage to meet at all, but it was lovely to at last put faces to those I did and to share a few words.

I had originally hoped to write this newsletter while everything was fresh in my mind but in the event I hardly had time to draw breath before having to plunge into a major redesign of the website to incorporate both the new “Themed” style which we have introduced into the shops and also a broadening of subject matter to give a UK-wide appeal in addition to the Scottish focus. There was an unmissable deadline to coincide with publicity and with the launch of the arrangement with the Scotsman newspaper’s new site, (www.scotsman.com) for whom we are the official bookseller, so as a result I’ve been pretty inactive on the discussion groups recently and haven’t been able to keep up with my correspondence. The fruits of these labours have just gone live a few days ago so please take a look and let me know what you think – good and bad. There are new sections on History, Politics, Biography, Golf, Food & Drink, Gardening, Natural History, Travel, Photography and Bridge, and we’ll be adding lots of additional authors in the fiction section soon. The Science Fiction/Fantasy authors are gradually being updated too.

Anyway, to return to the week of the Gathering, my wife and I had already had a lovely dinner with Mickey Thies and her husband Jerry at the beginning of the week and later met a number or other early visitors (including Simon and Cindy who looked remarkably calm for a couple of impresarios on the brink of a first night(!), and Sarah Meier who presented me with a lovely t-shirt with humorous medieval illustrations) for a drink and a meal in the High Street area, so things were looking good.

However, the Gathering itself started in a rather worrying way for me, as when I arrived at our Heriot Watt campus shop on the Friday afternoon I discovered that the shop manager had come down with flu and it was doubtful if he would be able to attend during the weekend. His assistant had come in but was unable to cover the same extended hours as we’d arranged. Further I found that the Border Reivers maps which I’d ordered were unavailable. Oh dear, was it all going to go wrong at the last minute? It was therefore in a somewhat pensive mood that I lurked around the foyer as everyone started to pour in from the first of the bus-trips to register with Val and her team. It was interesting to try and guess who was who before the name-badges were collected and various delighted meetings ensued as people spotted each other and/or embraced old friends who in some cases they had never actually met before. The mood for the weekend was thus well set and was further enhanced at the dinner that evening. I wasn’t able to stay for it but I’m told that Dorothy immediately set everyone at ease with her welcoming speech, and later posed for photographs with everyone who wished it.

The following morning continued the glorious weather which had enveloped the country in the previous couple of weeks, and it was an expectant crowd who gathered in the main lecture hall. The first talk was from Pauline Brace, as delightful a speaker as she is knowledgeable about the books and the history surrounding them. Her talk on “Danger and Delight” set the day’s proceedings off to the perfect start.

During the break for coffee people began to pour into our little campus shop to buy fresh copies of the books and peruse the other items I had ordered in for the event. I was pleasantly surprised to see our manager had made it in although in truth he looked dreadful and did a stalwart job in just staying on his feet, nevermind managing the rush.

Next up was Dorothy herself, introduced by Richenda Todd, giving her talk on Gemini. I won’t go into detail here or the newsletter will be as long as the book(!) but will save it for the next one when I hope to have time to discuss the story a little. Suffice it to quote just a couple of things she said as a taster – “It was a stinker to write”. “It was one of the 3 most difficult – with problems comparable to Checkmate”. (Hmm, I don’t think she ever said which the third one was!) She wrote the epilogue first, then the story and then went back and changed the epilogue to Andreas’ view.

After lunch people started to head off to the seminar rooms which were mostly packed out. Amongst these were discussions on History by Elspeth Morrison (of which more later), Birds in DD’s books by Diana Crane, Judith Wilt on the Dunnett/Scott connection, and on the music of the period by a member of the Edinburgh Renaissance Band. I’m told that all were excellent but not wishing to deprive anyone of a place I stayed outside and chatted to Dorothy’s son Mungo and daughter-in-law Allison who had taken the photographs the previous night and was displaying them on the walls ready for everyone coming back.

Judith’s Wilt’s talk was next and she expounded a complex theory about “Twins and Doubles on the Road to Scotland” which linked not only Lymond and Nicholas but also Thorfinn and Johnson Johnson! She packs so much into her speaking that I found it impossible to take notes without losing track but it’s planned that the full text will appear in Whispering Gallery magazine and it may be possible to arrange an archive of it on the web site – I’ll keep you posted on that.

As the afternoon drew to a close we all went off to find places to change into our “posh clothes” before leaving on the buses for the undoubted highlight of the weekend – the dinner in the Great Hall of Stirling Castle. There was almost a disaster as one of the buses broke down on the way, but as it happened a number of members of the Nikado cast were on the bus and the delay was alleviated by an impromptu rehearsal at the side of the road, which must have mystified a few drivers on the motorway!! Fortunately a replacement bus was procured in time for everyone to join up again before dinner.

A great deal of money and skill has been spent on restoring the castle in general and the Great Hall in particular and it looked superb as the evening sun flooded the plains from which the castle rock rises and lit up the Ochil hills behind. The view, whether across to the Wallace Monument or down the hill to Stirling Bridge was clear and golden-bright, and was complimented by the light reflected from the gold and white lions and unicorns which decorated the top of the castle buildings. Everyone delighted in walking around the battlements and the bowling/croquet lawn, before climbing up to the main courtyard and the Chapel Royal to be served champagne and wine and to watch and listen to the display of Renaissance dancing and music.

Following a group photograph taken from the high battlements overlooking the square, we moved into the Great Hall which was laid out with large circular tables to seat the 300 guests. The only exception being the long top table which sat beneath a large and colourful crested banner which hung at the far end of the hall. People were still taking in the inspiring atmosphere enhanced by the lighting and the amber sun which streamed through the tall windows, when they realised that each chair bore a limited edition signed copy of King Hereafter. There is a picture of everyone seated in the Great Hall on the website.

The meal consisted of Courgette and Coriander soup, Baked Salmon, and Drambuie Parfait with Wild Tayberrys, and was accompanied throughout by the music of the Edinburgh Renaissance Band who played from the Minstrel’s Gallery. Later they moved to the head of the hall for further performances which included a rendition of their setting of Tant Que Je Vive – a very moving experience in such surroundings. It was easy to imagine oneself at Lymond’s party for Mary.

The speakers included Mats Hellstrom, the Swedish Ambassador to Germany, who is an enthusiastic fan and had flown from Berlin for the dinner and gave the welcoming address. Towards the end of the evening he also introduced Pauline Brace who made the presentation to Dorothy of a specially produced book of tributes, poems, drawings and other myriad contributions, by people who have been associated with or inspired by her during her writing career. Bound in Charetty blue leather and set in a superbly crafted wooden box inlaid with silver, the book had been kept a closely guarded secret and was a complete surprise to her. As Pauline said “we can keep secrets too”!! Clearly delighted, Dorothy responded with her usual apomb.
It was a happy and well satisfied group who boarded the buses for the return to Heriot Watt.

Sunday morning kicked off with Henk Beentje’s talk, introduced by Ann McMillan who surprised him by telling us of his first appearance as a Dunnett fan as the only male amongst a large collection of women. To his great amusement she then said he liked strong women ….. he was a Gelis fan! Word reached us later that despite being an experienced speaker Henke had been dreadfully nervous the previous evening because with such a discerning group he wanted everything to be perfect – there was certainly no need to worry as he delivered a wonderfully informative and amusing talk on “The Flora and Fauna of Lymondshire” with a light touch and an immediate natural rapport with his audience. He reeled off a fascinating and diverse list of the creatures and plants which help make up the details that we all love in the books and illustrated many of them with slides and samples, and in the process revealed the true mystery of the Lymond Chronicles – which is of course the colour of Lady Culter’s curtains(!), as well as bringing the house down with a picture of two helmeted sheep!!

The excellence continued with Elspeth Morrison’s second seminar which had been moved to the larger lecture theatre due to high demand. She gave a lucid and entertaining account of the background history of the Scottish Stewart monarchs and the political and economic pressures they were faced with. With her extensive knowledge I’m sure that everyone came away with a far better understanding of the period.

Charles Burnett – Ross Herald since 1988 and one of three heralds of the Scottish Court gave an fine explanation of what he called “Dorothy’s Secret Vice” – the principles of heraldry (including why the Scottish system is better than the English one!!) and how they have been applied within the books. There were slides of the Trinity College altar piece and of the Unicorn chain on the effigy of Adorne in the Jerusalemkirk, as well as a look at the Knights of St. John. He then discussed the arms that were created for Lymond – including the seven vine leaves which became the symbol of the Gathering – before showing how the system worked in practice for Alastair Dunnett’s arms and then later Dorothy’s own.

Margaret Wilkes gave an illustrated talk on maps, which was very enlightening in showing just how poor the available maps and charts were for anyone undertaking long voyages – Nicholas and Lymond were truly venturing into the unknown on many of their trips. Even the “road maps” of the time were pretty useless from the point of view of navigation and told you little more than which order towns and cities would appear in on the journey. Amongst many pictures which I would have liked to be able to inspect for far longer was the Fra Mauro map which Nicholas discovered at Murano. This was a land map. 6.5 feet across. To our eyes it seemed hardly worth the bother but to him it would be invaluable. There was also a slide of Nicholas de Nicolai’s map of Scotland which was good for the time – a 1584 edition of an Italian map of Scotland still has it as an island!

Dorothy’s second and final talk covered the whole combined series. (Again I’ll save the details for later). The similarities and differences between the two heroes, their respective strengths and weaknesses, their motivations and relationships, as well as the connections and correspondences and the family links. By the end it was getting quite emotional as we all realised – Dorothy included – that this really was the end of an era and the last of the historical series.

After a signing session in which many people produced some very old and often embellished and annotated copies which Dorothy was delighted to see, we all had dinner before the preparations began for the second “undoubted highlight of the weekend” – The Nikado.

Simon Hedges and Cindy Byrne had been preparing for months – coaching, cajoling, persuading; rehearsing people across the net and sending CDs of the music and songs to countless parts of the world. A variety of people who had mostly never met were going to put on a complex performance involving difficult songs based mostly on Gilbert and Sullivan. It was an audacious undertaking as there was only a very short period available for rehearsal in the crowded schedule of the weekend. Most professional companies would have considered it impossible and ridiculed anyone mad enough to try it. I was involved in taking care of the PA system and as a one-time professional sound engineer I’ve seen many a first night fall in a heap under far more favourable circumstances. The result was far beyond anything I could have expected and I think beyond even Simon’s hopes. All the principles not only sang superbly well but acted their parts with bravado, The chorus sang with gusto (and in unison!), all the stage directions came together perfectly and the comic timing was exactly right. The audience was spellbound and Dorothy loved it – delighting in Simon’s superbly crafted songs, the jokes and the affectionate fun poked at the characters and plot of the books. A triumph for all concerned, who put such enthusiasm and love into making it such a success. I doubt that anyone who was there will ever forget it – a perfect finish to the weekend. (You can see some photographs of the performance on Simon’s website at www.simonhedges.com)

The Philadelphia Gathering will be taking place not long after you receive this newsletter. I originally toyed with the idea of going over there but finally decided that I needed a restful holiday and some time with my wife, so we’re heading off to Switzerland at the end of this week. I’m sure Philadelphia will be a great success too, and wish everyone a great time. Perhaps I’ll manage to get over to America or Canada and meet some of you in later years. As you know, Dorothy is doing an author tour after Philly and you can find the details of that on the Random House website if you haven’t already.

Some people have asked about whether I’ll keep producing these newsletters now that the historical series are finished. They’ll certainly continue, though they may not be as frequent as before depending on how much news there is. I already write most of them at home rather than at work so that isn’t a problem. There will doubtless be changes in all the Dunnett related activities; we already know that the US version of the discussion magazine – Marzipan & Kisses – will be closing in a year’s time, although the UK one – Whispering Gallery – is still getting plenty of contributions and will continue for the foreseeable future. The DD Foundation has been wound up but has been replaced by the DD Readers Association who kindly invited me to join their steering committee. We had the first meeting last weekend and there’ll be news of the developments in the next few months.

For now I’m off to get some more packing done for Switzerland!

very best wishes

Bill