Literary London: The Giants of English Literature
April 18 - 25, 2007
"All English literature leads to London" and "a tour of the world’s greatest fictional city." These two phrases borrowed from a new Anna Quindlen book, Imagined London, inspired this new SWT Travel-By-The-Book Literary Tour.
A capsule look at our tour:
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Shakespeare: The Globe Theatre and a play at The Globe |
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Charles Dickens: The giant among London writers. Visit one of his homes. |
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Oscar Wilde: Follow in his footsteps to his downfall. |
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Henry James: Visit Rye where James lived and worked in his later years. |
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Jane Austen: Visit Bath, the setting for Sense and Sensibilities. |
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The Bloomsbury Group: Where they lived, what motivated them. |
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Shakespeare |
Jane Austen |
Robert Browning |
Charles Dickens |
Virginia Woolf |
Day 1
Arrive in London, transfer on your own to our hotel located in Knightsbridge, just a short walk from Harrod’s.
Late afternoon talk on Literary London and what makes it tick: antiquarian bookstores, literary festivals, book auctions, publishing. Visit to an antiquarian bookseller.
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A Celebration of Oscar Wilde |
Day 2
The British Library is a unique place that booklovers will relish. Imagine 6 glass enclosed stories of books, the King George book collection. Be amazed at a computer that allows you to actually turn pages by gliding your hand over the page.
Afternoon: Oscar Wilde walking tour.
Evening: There are a wide range of literary talks each week in London. We will look for the most interesting one to attend, probably a talk at the British Library. I attended a very interesting discussion on Kafka in November 2004.
Day 3
Depart London around 8:30 a.m., return around 6 p.m. Visit to Sissinghurst, one of the seminal gardens of the world and home to the writer Vita Sackville-West. See her library and writing room. Stroll through the series of garden "rooms" enjoying the moat walk and the famous White Garden. Then continue to Rye for lunch and a visit to the home where Henry James lived for many years.
Day 4
Fascinating walking tour in The City (London’s financial district) that holds many unusual insights into the life and times of Dickens and Shakespeare.
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The Globe Theatre |
We will walk across the Millennium Bridge to The Globe Theatre, which opened in 1997. The Globe is a replica of the original theatre of Shakespeare’s time. You’ll have time to visit the many exhibits that chronicle the history of The Globe and the long process of its rebuilding spearheaded by the American actor and director, Sam Wanamaker.
Performance of Shakespeare play at The Globe. This outdoor theatre is only open from May through September. The 2005 schedule of Shakespeare plays include The Tempest (featuring the acclaimed Shakespearean actor, Mark Rylance as Prospero) and The Winter’s Tale. The exact schedule will be available mid-February 2005.
Day 5
Optional Day to do just what you want. Museums, shopping. Pub lunch, whatever. We’ll help you plan it.
Day 6
Half-day trip to Bath, so much a part of Jane Austen’s novels. It’s an architecturally beautiful city and its easy to imagine the hero and heroines of her novels, promenading, and dancing at their favorite balls.
Farewell dinner.
Day 7
Departure for home.
Itinerary subject to some minor modifications depending on The Globe Theatre schedule and availability of lecturers.
Cost
The cost will be $3,000+ (USD) without airfare. Price will include 7 night hotels (no single supplement), breakfast, 4 dinners, most activities except Optional Day. The price does not include airfare, airport transfers, lunches, stops for coffee, wine and alcoholic beverages. |
