A WEEKEND of celebration starts tomorrow (Saturday) to mark the 60th anniversary of the death of Ernest de Slincourt, one of the greatest men of letters in his day.

Professor de Slincourt, a leading Wordsworth scholar, was foremost in the field of literary criticism and editorship and produced the standard editions of classic poets including Wordsworth, Keats, Spenser and Whitman.

He was also Oxford Professor of Poetry and chairman of the trustees of Dove Cottage for many years, and lived at Ladywood, White Moss Common, Rydal.

The house at Ladywood will feature a special exhibition on his study of books, letters, photographs and memorabilia, and will be open throughout the weekend. The literary feast is being held in conjunction with the Wordsworth Trust and includes poetry fittingly selected by Wordsworth Trust director Robert Woof and read by Whitbread Prize 2003 winner Paul Farley, Henry Shukman, Pamela Woof and others. It is being staged, along with a book collectors' fair, at Grasmere's Thistle Hotel.

Further details are available from Mandi Abrahams on 015394-35479 with tickets from Will Carr at the Wordsworth Trust on 015394-63502.

For full story of Prof de Slincourt, see Karen Barden's People http://www.thisisthelakedistrict.co.uk/features/barden/index.html

May 15, 2003 10:00