Join Tim Kendall, Professor of English & Creative Writing at the University of Exeter, and Tom Cadbury, Assistant Curator of Archaeology and Antiquities at the RAMM, for a thought-provoking conversation that bridges the worlds of literature and science.
The Inheritors, published in 1955 and considered by William Golding as his finest work, tells the story of a Neanderthal tribe facing extinction due to the arrival of “the others”—Homo sapiens, our own species. Its vivid and immersive portrayal of the characters’ sensory experiences led Arthur Koestler to describe it as “an earthquake in the petrified forests of the English novel.”
This exclusive event will delve into the heart of the novel, exploring the extent of Golding’s artistic license, how he was influenced by the scientific understanding of his time, and whether recent discoveries align with his portrayal of Neanderthal-Homo sapiens interactions. As a highlight, participants will have the opportunity to view and handle fascinating objects from RAMM’s collections, including tools crafted by Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens.
Part of the University of Exeter Special Collections William Golding: Beyond the Island events. Find out more at https://specialcollectionsarchive.exeter.ac.uk/exhibits/show/william_golding
This event is FREE, but booking is essential.
Professor Tim Kendall teaches English and Creative Writing at the University of Exeter and is the author of the recent book Black Ops & Beaver Bombing: Adventures with Britain’s Wild Mammals (Oneworld, 2023). His research interests are William Golding’s fiction, war poetry, nature writing, and archives.
Tom Cadbury is Assistant Curator of Archaeology & Antiquities at RAMM. His focus is local archaeology, history, numismatics and the archaeology of Egypt, the Mediterranean and Western Asia. He has a degree in archaeology from the University of Southampton and a masters in museology from the University of East Anglia. Tom has also worked as an archaeologist and at the Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.
Event Information
Dates and Times
- 9 October 2024 6.30 – 7.30pm
Price
Free
Location
RAMM
