In Beijing With Carol Birch This Saturday

Just a quick note to say I’ll be moderating a discussion with the great Carol Birch – she of Jamrach’s Menagerie and, not mentioned so much, the great Turn Again Home as well as a bunch of other novels – at the Beijing International Literary Festival.

Saturday, 17th March – The Beijing Bookworm – 20:00

Man Booker 2011 shortlisted Jamrach’s Menagerie is a fast-paced adventure tale with a haunting twist. As a boy, Jaffy Brown is almost eaten by a tiger in a Victorian slum. Surviving the ordeal, Jaffy finds himself working at Mr. Jamrach’s exotic animal menagerie. He soon sets off with his best friend Tim on a whaling ship to hunt a legendary dragon for Jamrach’s collection. The journey on the high seas starts off full of promise and excitement, but then it all goes horribly wrong. Paul French (Midnight in Peking) talks with Carol Birch about the dangers of the sea, our darkest animal instincts and living to tell the tale. Brought to you by Dulwich College Beijing. 65 RMB