Rufus Sewell and Benedict Cumberbatch at the ready
Last week, we were delighted to be back in St James’ Square for the London Library & Heywood Hill Christmas Party. This was the second year of an event that is gathering steam as an extremely convivial annual meeting of literary folk, lubricated by fine Yapp wine. Hosts Sir Tom Stoppard and Nicky Dunne had persuaded Benedict Cumberbatch, Ralph Fiennes, Miranda Richardson and Rufus Sewell to entertain the audience with selected readings, all of which were superbly delivered and well-received.
Reading List
Guests nibbled canapés and consumed an indecent amount of red Cotes-du-Rhone Saint Gayan and white Cotes de Gascogne Domaine Millet. We’re already looking forward to next year’s party!
I am sure that the 110 year old reading room of The London Library in St James’ Square has seen some jolly scenes in its time, but last Thursday’s shindig would take some surpassing. My old university pal, Nicky Dunne, had charmed me into agreeing to pour Yapp wines down the thirsty throats of a large crowd assembled for the joint Heywood Hill and London Library Christmas party.
Current President, Sir Tom Stoppard used the occasion to announce the winner of the London Life in Literature award, a relaunched literary prize ‘for a lifetime’s contribution to the enjoyment of books’ which is sponsored by Heywood Hill bookshop. The posthumous joint winners for 2011 were novelist Josephine Hart and Patrick Leigh-Fermor.
Bill Nighy reading at The London Library
Guests were then treated to readings by actors Dominic West, Natascha McElhone and Bill Nighy while they enjoyed Vouvray mousseux Brut, Saint Pourçain Cuvée Printainière and Côtes du Thongue. And rather a lot of it!
Dominic West reading at The London Library
