When Jan Morris passed away in 2020, she was considered one of Britain’s best-loved writers. The author of Venice, Pax Britannica, Conundrum, and more than fifty other books, her work was known for its observational genius, lyricism, and humour, and had earned her a passionate readership around the world.

Now, for the first time, Paul Clements brings together a full account of Morris’ magnificent life, in Jan Morris: life from both sides. Based on a wealth of interviews, archival material, and hitherto unpublished documents, the brand new biography portrays a person of extraordinary talent, curiosity, and joie de vivre.

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In this exciting event, Paul Clements, former BBC assistant editor and current literary journalist will discuss this extraordinary biography with writer and broadcaster Gareth Jones. Paul, who knew Jan Morris personally for 30 years, edited a collection of tributes to her on her 80th birthday, and spent four months at Oxford University where he wrote the first critical study of her work, published by the University of Wales Press (1998). Gareth produced the last two programmes Jan Morris made for Radio 4 and his recent documentary about her life, ‘Jan Morris: Authoring A Life’ is still available as a podcast on BBC Sounds. He is also featured in the current edition of The Welsh Agenda, again discussing Jan.

They will give an insight into Morris’s life and times, looking not just at her travel and history books, but her biographical work, journalism and critical commentary as well as the scale of her writing about Wales.

Tickets: £25.00 including a SIGNED hardback copy of Jan Morris: life from both sides (RRP: £25.00) / OR £7.50 event only