Sunday September 12th 2021
Upstaged by a Muppet – Event report on The Chiswick Calendar (Image above: L to R Torin Douglas, Rose Sandy, John Walsh, Anna Eavis; photograph Roger Green)
4:15pm: Anthony Burgess: Why No Blue Plaque in Chiswick? And if not him – who?
In 2015, English Heritage turned down a blue plaque for Anthony Burgess on his former home at 24 Glebe Street, Chiswick.
John Walsh, the former Sunday Times literary editor and director of the Cheltenham Literature Festival (left) wrote in the Independent that their arguments were “bone-headed”. “If Anthony Burgess doesn’t merit a blue plaque, then few do”.
Now a second application has been rejected:
News release – Anthony Burgess turned down again for blue plaque in Chiswick
In a panel discussion, chaired by Festival director Torin Douglas, we’ll look at how plaques are awarded with Anna Eavis, curatorial director of English Heritage (above left). And in the week that it unveiled a blue plaque for Jim Henson, the creator of The Muppet Show, we’ll discuss who deserves one – if not Burgess – with John Walsh and Rose Sandy (above right), founder of the HarperCollins Author Academy, which supports writers from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds.
We’re also inviting Festival-goers and others to suggest authors they would like to be celebrated in this way – see details below.
Supported by Chiswick Auctions.
St Michael & All Angels Parish Hall, £8 (Change of venue)
Blue Plaques Competition
The Chiswick Book Festival invites you to nominate an author you would nominate for a blue plaque, in not more than 30 words. The best entry will win a vintage edition of a Burgess novel from Foster Books, which sells rare books in Chiswick High Road.The competition is sponsored by Bown Design & Build.
To comply with English Heritage criteria, the author must have a connection with a London building and have been dead for at least 20 years. See English Heritage: Propose a Plaque.
Please email your entries to admin@chiswickbookfestival.net or send them to: Blue Plaques Competition, Parish Office, St Michael & All Angels Church, Priory Avenue, London W4 1TX by Monday September 27th 2021. The judges’ decision will be final.
Portrait of Anthony Burgess by Jane Bown, Lot 241 in the 19th and 20th Century Photography sale at Chiswick Auctions, September 7th 2021.