THE writings of a 19th Century Wiltshire nature writer are being brought to life by Marlborough Shakespearean actor Simon Russell Beale.

Sir Simon recently took up the baton of being Marlborough LitFest's first patron, and with the September festival on ice pending further announcements on mass gatherings, he has decided to record the writings of Wiltshire nature writer, Richard Jefferies.

The critically acclaimed actor of stage and screen, who was knighted in October 2019, moved to Marlborough this year, and has visited the Festival a number of times, appearing in 2016 prior to playing Prospero in the RSC’s production of The Tempest at Stratford.

“As Patron of Litfest, I thought I would try to lighten the mood in this extraordinary time by reading from a local Victorian nature writer, Richard Jefferies - a literary walk in Savernake Forest, perhaps,” he said.

Richard Jefferies was a Victorian nature writer, renowned for his depiction of English rural life in essays, articles and philosophical offerings as well as being a novelist for children and adults.

He grew up on a small Wiltshire farm in the village of Coate, which heavily influenced his writing.

The farmhouse is now a museum open to the public.

The Richard Jefferies Society and The White Horse Bookshop in Marlborough award an annual prize for nature writing, cementing Jefferies’ literary legacy to a genre that has become increasingly popular.

John Price, a Vice-President of The Richard Jefferies Society, said: “ We hope that this initiative will bring our local writer’s work to the attention of a new generation of readers, and that listeners may find enjoyment and solace in the extracts.”

The Marlborough LitFest Chair, Genevieve Clarke, said: “Everyone needs to be reminded of the solace and inspiration that nature can provide, especially if they can’t get out into it themselves at the moment.

"It’s wonderful to be able to offer this literary treat.”

The Marlborough LitFest is still aiming to hold its Festival from 24-27 September 2020 but is keeping the situation under constant review.

The readings will be released from the middle of May. They can be heard on the Festival’s website www.marlboroughlitfest.org/litfest-speaking and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MarlboroughLitFest