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Waterstones, High Street Kensington

We are delighted to welcome Lucy Ashe, author of fictional historical thriller The Sleeping Beauties, and Alice Robb, author of the memoir Don't Think, Dear to Waterstones Kensington for a fascinating exploration of Ballet: looking at its history and the ballet establishment's turbulent relationship with its dancers and their bodies.

Lucy and Alice, both former dancers themselves, seek to examine but also celebrate the dance form, as well as delving into its history: The Sleeping Beauties focusses on the history of the Royal Opera House and the Sadler's Wells company during the Second World War, and the dramatic climax of the novel is set ahead of the first performance of the 1946 Sleeping Beauty. Alice Robb's depiction of her experiences and those of well-known dancers over history in Don't Think, Dear was hailed as a Book of the Year for the Sunday Independent, and as 'beautiful, difficult, and compelling' by Vanity Fair.

It's a vital discussion as, while the ballet world clearly has serious faults to address, dancing also brings liberation to so many, and pleasure to those, young to old, who flock to theatres such as the Royal Opera House every year. Alice Robb's personal and forensic approach deals with these topics head-on, while Lucy Ashe employs the dark framework of fairytales to explore female safety in her novel.

Both authors will be in conversation, followed by an audience Q&A and a book signing.

P&T Knitwear is pleased to welcome Lucy Ashe for a discussion of her newest book, The Dance of the Dolls — a novel about obsessive love, set in the world of ballet in pre-war London — along with an audience Q&A and book signing. Lucy will be joined in conversation by author Amita Parikh, and after the talk, Lucy will sign copies of her books.

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