I was invited to attend the award of this year’s Erasmus Prize to Antonia Byatt, in a line of mainly men, beginning in 1958 with The People of Austria, and including Herbert Read, Henry Moore, and, perhaps more surprisingly, the food writer, Alan Davidson, the historian of science, Simon Schaffer and last year Wikipedia. She spoke very powerfully about the experience of writing fiction – how she compares it to painting (she taught at Central School of Art before joining the Senior Common Room at University College alongside tutors at the Slade) and how she was first inspired by the use of language in the work of Beatrix Potter (‘flopsy’) as well as Shakespeare.
| Charles | Saumarez | Smith | 
i don’t know why you would be surprised by Alan Davidson, a giant in the field of gastronomy. More than a mere “food writer” I think. His book North Atlantic Seafood with its’ descriptions of his aunt’s Scottish high teas is a classic,
Dear Amanda, I wasn’t disparaging, just commenting on the range of choice. Charles
Hello, Charles, Is there a way to hear the acceptance speech given by A. S. Byatt for the Erasmus Prize?
I am huge fan.
I hope it’s on line. It certainly should be – as powerful a speech as I’ve heard in a long while. Charles
I have just read A.S.Byatt’s Peacock and Vine with a great pleasure. Her penetrating analysis and appreciation of William Morris and Mariano Fortuny are truly beautiful and sympathetic. Really a remarkable person of our time.
I’ve got it, but not yet read it. Charles
She also writes extremely well about Edmund De Waal. She is, indeed, truly remarkable