The history of literature is textured with stories of profound friendships between writers; many a great work inspired by love and a meeting of minds, often set against troubled times from plague to political upheaval.

This event is available to view as a recording until 13 June. Tickets can be purchased below.

In the midst of our own troubled times, historian Simon Schama, discusses some of the most famous and fascinating friendships to have been forged amongst writers throughout history: from Boccaccio and Petrarch, to Montaigne and La Boétie, to Berlin and Akhmatova.

Sir Simon Schama, CBE is University Professor of Art History and History at Columbia University and a Contributing Editor of the Financial Times. He is the author of nineteen books and the writer-presenter of fifty documentaries on art, history and literature for BBC2. In May 2019, Wordy: Sounding off on high art, low appetite and the power of memory, was published. His latest television series, The Romantics and Us, is currently airing on the BBC.

Your link will be sent to you via Eventbrite. If you do not receive it, please check your junk file or email litfest@londonlibrary.co.uk. Please note the event starts with a slide show listing the festival events which lasts approx. 1 minute.

Transcription for this event will be available soon.

Ticket holders will receive a 10% discount to buy all festival books from Hatchards until 13 June with their ticket.

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Tickets

Tickets cost £5 or buy a £25 Festival Pass for access to all festival event recordings.

If you have a Festival Pass code or discount code please enter it in the ‘promo code’ area below and press ‘apply’ and you will see your hidden discounts.