Charleston Summer Party

Illicit and ambi-sexual affairs; heady nights discussing socialism, pacifism, realism, literature and art; romance, more romance, more art, cross-dressing, opium, fatal attractions, love triangles and painted furniture. Whew, those Charleston parties were good. And, if you missed out first time around earlier this century, then there is a chance to catch up at Twenty Years: The Summer Party, at the Bloomsbury set's country retreat. To celebrate two decades since the restoration of Charleston, the team are putting on a bash on Sunday afternoon. There will be talks by speakers including Debo Gage, the moving force behind the setting up of the Trust in 1981, Lord Robert Skidelsky, early Charleston Chairman, economist and biographer of Maynard Keynes; and Virginia Nicholson, trustee and granddaughter of Vanessa Bell. There will be 'Then and Now' displays, music and celebrations for Olivier Bell, the last surviving Bloomsbury's 90th birthday. You can wear that polka-dot, or Broderie Anglaise dress that you bought for a wedding last month. And you can fantasise about holding your own in an intense conversation about art with Virginia Woolf, Duncan Grant, Roger Fry, Lytton Strachey or whichever members of the Bloomsbury set you fancy. You will also have the chance to bid in their live auction for some special Charleston offers including the opportunity to hold your own dinner party at the farmhouse. Now that's when you could re-stage it all. They could hardly expect you and your guests to leave by 11pm, given the history. JW