"Writing Houses" Event Plus WIN The Stranger's Child

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Get your tickets to attend the 'Writing Houses: Dwelling on Dwelling' event with Alan Hollinghurst, Andrew Motion and Rowan Moore, plus win a signed copy of The Stranger's Child

Houses have played a central role in many of the greatest books in history, and have been the setting for some of the most memorable moments. Moving in, moving out, or indeed being trapped inside - whatever the circumstance, there is no doubting the importance of houses in our lives, and in our writing.

On Monday 19th September 2011,  2004 Man-Booker Prize winner Alan Hollinghurst and former Poet Laureate Andrew Motion will join Rowan Moore to discuss the idea of 'houses' in literature.  Both authors will read from their own work, as well as considering the work of others, and answering questions from the audience. The event will begin at 7pm at King's Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9AG.

Click here to book your tickets and to find out more information.

We are also giving you the chance to win a signed copy of Alan Hollinghurst's novel The Stranger's Child, longlisted for the 2011 Man-Booker prize. Simply leave a comment below, telling us your favourite or most memorable houses from literature. Competition ends on Monday 19th September 2011, winners announced the following day. Good luck!

 THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ENTERED. THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED AND A WINNER HAS BEEN SELECTED.

 

 

WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT:

Congratulations to Cuteface who has won a signed copy of Alan Hollinghurst's The Stranger's Child. Please send an email to webcompetitions@macmillan.co.uk with Writing Houses Website Comp as the subject and your name and postal address in the body, using the email address you registered with.

Many thanks to all who entered for your interesting suggestions. We hope some of you were able to attend the event and hear more about houses and literature.

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stillawake
stillawake posted a comment
Thursday 15th Sep 2011 12:40
My favourite house was Boo Radley's house in To Kill A Mockingbird. I was influenced a lot by the movie but I loved the idea that he was up there looking out for the little kids and one day they needed him.
 
A Novel Review-Laura
A Novel Review-Laura posted a comment
Thursday 15th Sep 2011 12:44
I think of the "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Gilman. The colonel mansion, where the narrator descends into madness, but it's the room itself that stands out and was described so well I could almost smell it. I bet I read "The Yellow Wallpaper" half a dozen times in college.
 
cuteface
cuteface posted a comment
Friday 16th Sep 2011 06:37
My most memorable house is Anne Franks house.It's interesting to read about but also sad too surprising how all 8 managed to stay hidden but you have to do whatever to survive.Brave people.
 
earthmomma
earthmomma posted a comment
Friday 16th Sep 2011 06:56
The most memorable house for me must be Sept-Tours in A Discovery of Witches. More of a castle than a house but described in such delicious detail you can smell the French countryside, the herbs in the gardens and felt every one of those hundreds of worn stone steps going up Matthew's turret.
 
bibliomouse
bibliomouse posted a comment
Friday 16th Sep 2011 07:49
I think it has to be Manderley from 'Rebecca'. The whole novel is infused with the sinister atmosphere of the house and it's inhabitants, both dead and alive.
 
TomB
TomB posted a comment
Saturday 17th Sep 2011 10:09
For me it is a toss-up between the Bly in The Turn of the Screw, and Poe's House of Usher. Equally chilling.
 
curiousduck
curiousduck posted a comment
Sunday 18th Sep 2011 02:11
Mine also has to be Manderley from du Maurier's 'Rebecca'. I studied the novel at school and I remember it being the first book I had read where the house itself had a personality of its own and that for me made it so memorable.
 
MDespres
MDespres posted a comment
Monday 19th Sep 2011 08:08
The first that comes to mind is Thornfield Hall in Jane Eyre. That house was a character itself.
 

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