RICHARD Dawkins got to talk about himself for an hour and 45 minutes, accompanied by an orchestra playing his favourite music, at this year’s Blenheim Palace Literary Festival.
The author of The Selfish Gene was among a galaxy of stars at this weekend’s event, alongside Downtown Abbey creator Julian Fellowes and Just a Minute host Nicholas Parsons.
World-famous atheist Mr Dawkins discussed his life and musical loves with broadcaster Paul Blezard, while members of the Orchestra of St John’s played his particular favourites.
Talking to an audience at the palace orangery on Saturday, Mr Dawkins spoke about the early private influences that shaped the public figure of today which all feature in his new book, An Appetite for Wonder: The Making of a Scientist. The story traces the formative scientist from public school to the zoology department at Oxford University.
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He was later catapulted to fame with the publication of The Selfish Gene, a revolutionary vision of Darwinian evolution.
Other famous names included acclaimed poet and novelist Ben Okri, talking about his work, and actress Maureen Lipman who entertained crowds with poems and monologues, interlaced with music from the jazz singer Jacqui Dankworth and the Butterfly Wing group.
Lord Fellowes introduced the premiere of his new television documentary about the Woodstock stately home: Blenheim Palace: Great War House.
On Friday, in the palace’s Marlborough Room, he spoke about the rules and rituals of the palace and touched upon the lives of those associated with it, including Winston Churchill who was born there in 1874.
His film, to be aired later this year, will give viewers an insight into how the First World War destroyed the old order.
Among the other speakers at the festival, which brings hundreds of visitors to Woodstock each September, were former defence minister Liam Fox discussing the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, while former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord George Carey who talked on the subject of moral dilemmas.
The palace has pulled off one last surprise by announcing a one-off post festival event on October 31, when Boris Johnson will talk about the legacy of Sir Winston Churchill.
Organisers said the festival had been the best so far.
Ben Okri, speaking in the palace’s Indian Room, top, Prof Richard Dawkins with his wife Lalla Ward, the author and one-time Dr Who assistant, and former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey, above
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