Professor Scott Rice of San Jose University in California is the founder of the annual Bulwer Lytton Fiction Contest, which since 1982 has challenged entrants to “compose the opening sentence to the worst of all possible novels”. Despite that, he is a friend. “All publicity is good publicity” the saying goes. But there are times when we are not sure. In the last month Knebworth House has been moved from English Heritage’s “Buildings At Risk” register to English Heritage’s “Priority Buildings At Risk” register. English Heritage has good reason – 50% of the house remains unrestored and in a perilous condition – however, as a headline, this can, for instance, worry brides who have booked the house for their weddings next year. Even Scott Rice writes from California saying he has read that “Knebworth House may be closing down”.
Brides need not worry – thanks to the Knebworth House Education and Preservation Trust, the other 50% of the house is beautifully restored, and will be the perfect venue for their happy day. And as for “closing down”, that has never been an option on my jotting pad! I have thus reassured Scott, and taken the opportunity, at the same time, to send him Page 3 of last Friday’s The Sun newspaper, in which Hollie, 22, from Manchester quotes “the English poet Edward Bulwer Lytton”. All publicity is good publicity!
The Bulwer Lytton saying that Hollie from Manchester quotes is a good one for the Christmas issue, so I will sign off with it. All at Knebworth House send very best seasonal wishes, and my great-great-great-grandfather’s observation – to be considered as you are tucking into Christmas puddings, Quality Street chocolates and mince pies – “In life, as in art, the beautiful moves in curves”!
Henry Lytton Cobbold
www.knebworthhouse.com