Guess who's coming to dinner? - Karen Bush

'The Load of Unicorn' by Cynthia Harnett

I've just finished re-reading 'The Load of Unicorn' by Cynthia Harnett. It's a great book, set at the time of Caxton and featuring a bidding battle between two publishers over the tales of Malory - so as well as being a good read, it's a book which will put a smile on the face of any writer. She effortlessly educates as well as entertains, and does some pretty fabulous illustrations as well, and I found myself thinking what a terrific dinner guest she'd make.

Naturally, that led me to think of what other literary dinner guests I'd like to invite - along with all my fellow AE friends and colleagues of course who would automatically receive a gilt edged invitation. The list started to grow so long that I realised that no table was going to be big enough, and it would have to be more along the lines of a stand-up buffet, which would rather spoil the initial idea of fascinating conversation shared over the course of a leisurely meal.

Jerome. No idea why
he's looking so grumpy ...
hopefully he would turn up for
dinner in a better mood

So I got ruthless. Working on the principle that I didn't want anyone here to feel obliged to invite me over for reciprocal beans on toast, I first eliminated all the AE authors from the list, then whittled away at the rest. It was tough, but ended up as a toss-up in the end between Jerome K Jerome whose books never fail to make me laugh even on the umpteenth reading, and TH White, author of my desert island book, The Once and Future King. White won in the end by a whisker: so much knowledge - and a fellow dog lover of course. (Yes, I know Jerome wrote about the fictional Montmorency, and owned a real fox terrier or two himself - but read White's accounts of Brownie and you'll understand how he managed to inch ahead)

Interviews with Remarkable Authors - interview with White from the BBC archives - to watch click HERE

Louis Rhead's bold Robin
shooting in Sherwood with Sir Guy

          Then I started to think of which fictional character I might like to meet. This was even more difficult, as some of my favourites aren't necessarily people you might want to share a meal with. I mean, you'd definitely find it hard to relax with Elric's bloodthirsty sword humming hungrily away at his side ... In the end I was torn between Falco (plus Helena, of course), King Arthur and Havelock Vetinari (another dog lover). Or possibly Lady Sybil and Sam Vimes.  Or Robin Hood. Oh hell. Here we go again ... pass me the red pen.


So who would you invite (living, dead or fictional) to dinner?