Around the Year's Midnight

In the darkness of early January, this is a talk about the art of winter still-points, when we meet with things dying and things newborn. What happens at the turn, which can becalm us in the depths or in blankness, though the clock hands point upwards? What happens if you miss the moment, or find that life stays longer than it should at what John Donne calls the ‘bed’s feet’? Do the pauses and flights of the year still carry meaning for our lives in a lighted world?

Join Alexandra Harris as she considers different conceptions of the year’s shape and the many moments at which a ‘new year’ begins: from St Lucy’s Day in mid-December through to Lady Day in March. As we pause at the hinge, looking forward and back, we’ll think about the traditions of art and gift-giving that enable us to take stock and start again.

 

Alexandra Harris

Alexandra is a writer, academic, and cultural historian. Her books include Romantic Moderns, Weatherland, and a small volume on calendar art called Time and Place. The Rising Down, her book about Sussex landscapes and histories, is due out in March 2024. She is Professor of English at the University of Birmingham and a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

“Fascinating talk, great speaker and welcoming atmosphere. Always enjoy events at West Horsley Place. Something for everyone in the mix. Easy parking too! Looking forward to next one.”

Important Information

Ticket cost: £15

Alexandra's talk will take place in the barn. 

The talk will start at 7.30pm and last approx 1h plus time for questions. 

Access information here.

Bar open from 7pm.