YouCaxton has a stand at the Wellington Literary Festival this Saturday, 11 October, 1914, and on Saturday 25 October. We’ll be happy to answer any questions concerning publishing and printing.

Dr Lempert’s talk, ‘What is Lost’, at the latest YouCaxton Literary Lecture in the Pengwern Bookshop, Shrewsbury, was full to capacity last night. Those who attended heard Dr Lempert’s articulate and passionate description of the effect of religious belief on medical practice in the modern world. (Dr Lempert is Chair of the Secular Medical Forum.) His talk touched on religious fundamentalism in countries such as Pakistan and Israel as well as nearer home in Britain and Europe. It looked at how medical interventions based on custom and belief rather than medical necessity, such as circumcision both male and female, have been sanctioned or tacitly tolerated due to pressure from religious authorities. His description of legal threats and of the machinations of multinational bodies was rivetting.

There’s an excellent review of Hillary Mantel’s latest collection of short stories in the Guardian by James Lasdun although he is perhaps a little tough on her The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher – August 6th 1983 which ‘has an engaging sprightliness, and the situation it contrives – of a captive woman who shares her captor’s loathing for the Iron Lady, almost to the point of being willing to trade places with him (“You go and make the tea and I’ll sit here and mind the gun”) – is full of comic as well as serious possibilities. The problem is that so much of the story’s energy goes into the elaborate mechanics and metaphysics of its counterfactual … Nothing to object to, but it amounts to little more than cheerleading (or jeerleading), which is disappointing, to say the least, after the richly layered political theatre of the Tudor novels.’

Elizabeth Yeoman’s new book of poetry More Than Words was launched on Friday evening, 29th August, to a crowd of more than three hundred in south Shropshire, at Chelmarsh Sports and Social Club. The event was a tribute to Elizabeth’s bravery in attending despite her serious illness. Steve Edwards spoke a few words at the opening and has special words of praise for the makers of a triumphant Victoria sponge cake. A bitter-sweet moment for all involved and a special achievement for a remarkable Shropshire figure. Nearly all the books taken to the event were sold.