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# Charleston Festival puts crime writer under the microscope
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/charleston-festival-puts-crime-writer-under-the-microscope/
- Published: 2016-03-15T16:13:07.000Z
- Updated: 2016-03-15T18:35:52.000Z
- Description: Charleston Festival returns this May, with a focus on the work of renowned author Patricia Highsmith.
- Author: Alice Blezard
- Tags: Arts, Books, In The South, News

## Charleston Festival returns this May, with a focus on the work of renowned author Patricia Highsmith.

![WEB.600](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web-600-44.jpg)

**The festival, now in its 27th year,** celebrates the 100th anniversary of artists **Vanessa Bell** and **Duncan Grant** coming to live at Charleston, on the recommendation of **Virginia Woolf**. From the start Charleston was a place of dissent and debate as well as creativity, and the festival has always tried to reflect these values.

**Patricia Highsmith’s** work has recently been enjoying a renaissance, with the huge success of the film *Carol* which is based on her novel *The Price of Salt*. Many of her books have been adapted into films, including *Strangers on a Train* and *The Talented Mr Ripley*.

Highsmith’s work will be dissected at this year’s Charleston Festival by novelist **Jill Dawson**. Dawson will be in conversation with **Donna Coonan** and **Lennie Goodings**, editorial director and publisher of Virago, at Charleston on Saturday, May 21 at 5pm.

This is a bumper festival with two extra days, as well as a celebratory dinner with **HRH Princess Michael of Kent**. Art is celebrated with sessions involving architect **Zaha Hadid**, **Edmund de Waal** and **Julian Bell**. The 400th anniversary of the death of Shakespeare is marked by events led by **James Shapiro**, **Nicholas Hytner**, **Jeanette Winterson** and **Eileen Atkins**.

There is biography and autobiography including **Joan Bakewell**, **Ted Hughes** and **Stephen Spender**. Science is represented by the Astronomer Royal **Lord Rees a**nd by inventor of the web **Sir Tim Berners-Lee**, who is this year’s winner of the Charleston-EFG John Maynard Keynes Prize. Among the high profile writers taking part are three Booker and three Orange Prize winners.

*“Our aim is to startle and delight,”* **says artistic director Diana Reich,** *“to experiment with something new.”*

Charleston is halfway between Brighton and Eastbourne, six miles east of Lewes, off the A27\. There is a minibus shuttle service from Lewes train station direct to Charleston for all events.

Charleston Festival runs from May 20 to 30.

**For information and timetables, [click here:](http://charleston.org.uk/festival?ref=scenemag.co.uk)**

**To book tickets for any events online, [click here:](http://www.brightonticketshop.com/?ref=scenemag.co.uk)**

**Or telephone:** 01273 709709