John Nettles, Jersey’s original Bergerac star, will be among the speakers in the biggest ever Jersey Festival of Words this autumn.
A historian and author as well as a celebrated stage and television actor, he will be presenting his latest Occupation-related project, a new edition of the diaries of Baron Hans Max von Aufsess, who was the commanding officer of the civil administration of the Channel Islands under Nazi rule from 1943 until 1945.
Entitled Gentle Violence, it is the first unabridged and unexpurgated version of the baron’s journal, documenting his innermost thoughts about his contemporaries and offering a unique insight into life behind the scenes of the German command, especially as food began to run out after D-Day.
John Nettles will be on stage at the Freedom Centre in an event sponsored by Oakglen Wealth, one of over 60 in this year’s line-up. Over half of the festival events are free, thanks to financial support from commercial sponsors, charitable trusts and government.
William Lamond, Investment Director at Oakglen Wealth, commented: “We are thrilled to continue our support of JFOW24 and welcome the renowned actor and author, John Nettles, as the headline speaker at this upcoming event. His profound storytelling and distinguished career promise to captivate and inspire everyone, making this event truly unforgettable.”
Gentle Violence is said to show Baron von Aufsess as a multi-lingual aspiring intellectual and inveterate womaniser, with a post-war question mark over whether his membership of the Nazi Party was genuine or just a career move. His diaries were first published in 1985 but only in an edited form.
Nettle’s illustrated talk will be among the highlights of a wide-ranging programme for book-lovers of all ages that begins on Friday 20 September and continues until Sunday 29 September. Other visiting stars include former Scottish poet laureate Jackie Kay, legendary children’s author Michael Rosen, author of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, artist Chris Riddell (who has contributed a design for the Festival’s programme cover), acclaimed novelist Kathy Lette, quizmaster Jay Flynn and Tristan Gooley, whose How to Read a Tree is a non-fiction best-seller.
More information about the Jersey Festival of Words can be found here.
Main image: John-Nettles. Image credit: Nanny Simonis.
