Susanne Masters, plant scientist & wild swimmer

Thursday, 12^th May 2022, 19:00 – 20:00 in The Casterbridge Room

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Susanne Masters is a plant scientist and an experienced wild swimmer. An expert on Dorset’s beautiful sea and river swimming locations and peaceful forest bathing locations, she has written extensively on culture and the outdoors for publications including the Guardian, New York Times, BBC Traveller, Countryfile and Outdoor Swimmer. Susanne is endlessly interesting, from wild swimming to foraging, from bivvying to the healing power of plants.

Susanne will be discussing her book Wild Waters, a celebration of the breadth of wildlife that can be found in and around our varied waterways, from oceans and rivers to rock pools and ponds. Armchair explorers can read a fascinating account of how aquatic plants and animals enrich human life. Swimmers, paddleboarders, dog walkers, families, and anyone with a passion for the great outdoors can learn about local wildlife, including when and where to look for different species without causing any harm.

Alice Smellie, co-author of Cracking the Menopause

Thursday, 19^th May 2022, 19:00 – 20:00 in The Casterbridge Room

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Award-winning health journalist Alice Smellie provides a clear-headed and authoritative guide to an oft-neglected topic, the book discusses all aspects of the menopause with candour and wit alongside wryly funny illustrations and contributions from a range of experts. An essential book that separates the myths from the reality and offers expertise, hope and advice it has been a runaway success and received rave reviews:

‘I inhaled this book, it’s fantastic. Women of all ages need to read it. It’s genuinely helped me understand why I wake up at 5 a.m. and made me laugh along the way.’ – Claudia Winkelman

‘Optimistic, hilarious and informative. A rallying cry for women to love and look after themselves at any age.’ – Susannah Constantine

Lucy Jago, award-winning writer of fiction and non-fiction

Thursday, 26^th May 2022, 19:00 – 20:00 in The Casterbridge Room

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Lucy Jago is an award-winning writer of fiction and non-fiction. Her brilliant book A Net for Small Fishes has received rave reviews and been described as the Thelma and Louise of the seventeenth century.

“A Net for Small Fishes brings a new and modern insight to a famous historical intrigue. The intricate complexities of the Jacobean court are beautifully told but it is the relationship between these two women, Frances Howard, Countess of Essex and Mistress Anne Turner as they play the cards life has dealt them that is both riveting and contemporary.” Alex Shulman

Lucy is a former documentary producer for Channel 4 and the BBC. Her first book, The Northern Lights, won the National Biography prize and has been translated into eight languages; her YA novel, Montacute House, met with critical acclaim in the US and the UK. Lucy graduated from King’s College, Cambridge, with a double first-class honours degree and went on to complete an MA at the Courtauld Institute.