The Mermaid & Ms Gowar

St Swithin's Day. It's rained. A lot. It was actually rather nice. After over 40 days of serious sunshine are we now headed for 40 days of rain?  

My first outing for the literary Festival this afternoon and what a way to start! First we had to take the ferry and head over to Whiddy island. The arrival of the author on the quay sent a flurry through the assembled enthusiasts for she looked wonderful - wearing a long black dress and a spectacular carnation headband. She has a name to match - Imogen Hermes Gowar - and proved to be a sparkling interviewee: funny, depreciating. fiercely intelligent and very eloquent. See extra for when she and her interviewer were being attacked by horseflies! Also note the sheer glamour of the surroundings!

Her book sounds fascinating: The Mermaid & Mrs Hancock . Imogen has a background in museums and it was this rather  grotesque specimen to be found in the British Museum that was the starting point of the book. I bought a copy immediately. I read the first chapter whilst waiting for the ferry back to Bantry,