Thank you Elif Shafak and Mark Lawson for a fascinating discussion this evening about Elif's urgent new book How To Stay Sane in an Age of Division for Jewish Book Week at Kings Place London It was a privilege to introduce this event in memory of my father, Robin Hyman.
Introduction:
Good evening and welcome.
My name is James Hyman and I am the son of Robin Hyman, the distinguished publisher and author, who was one of the founders – and a great supporter - of Jewish Book Week. My father lived in a world of good books, passionate conversation and intense political debate and he would have loved our session this evening.
Following his death in 2017, Jewish Book Week now stages an annual event in my father’s memory. In 2019, this was a stimulating and provocative panel discussion about the threats to democracy at which the award winning novelist, Elif Shafak, was one of the speakers. And since then the issues raised have become even more urgent… So we are particularly pleased to welcome back Elif Shafak this evening to Jewish Book Week.
Shafak’s most recent book, a non fiction essay, How to Stay Sane in an Age of Division, develops her critique of contemporary society in our age of covid and is a welcome attempt to wrestle something positive from these tragic times. She is in conversation with the eminent journalist, broadcaster and author Mark Lawson. Thank you to both of you.
So, on behalf of my mother, Inge, and my brother and sister, Peter and Philippa, I am delighted to welcome you all – all-be-it-remotely – to what I’m sure will be a fascinating, topical and hopeful discussion.
Thank you.