Literary lunch dates

A feminist and a philosopher will be guest speakers at Herald-Dymocks Literary Luncheons in the next few weeks.

Fay Weldon, the New Zealand-born, British-raised novelist, will speak at the Sheraton Auckland Hotel and Towers on Tuesday, May 28.

Canadian philosopher John Ralston Saul will speak at the Stamford Plaza Hotel on Thursday, June 6.

Weldon has just published the first volume of her autobiography, Auto da Fay.

The novelist and feminist icon began her career as an advertising copywriter in London in the 60s, then moved to screenwriting and fiction.

Widely known for her novel and screen adaptation of The Life and Loves of a She-Devil, Weldon is a prolific and provocative novelist, her most recent titles being Rhode Island Blues and The Bulgari Connection.

Ralston Saul argues that balance is the essential ingredient for society. People may have different talents, characteristics and virtues, qualities which give the intelligence, self-confidence and practical ability to think and act responsibly, but balance and the process of seeking equilibrium is the essence of civilisation, he says.

Ralston Saul ran his own European investment firm before becoming a policy adviser to Petro-Canada.

He is married to the Canadian Governor-General, Adrienne Clarkson.

* Fay Weldon was profiled in the Weekend Herald's Life section, and a coupon for her lunch appears on A16. John Ralston Saul will be interviewed in the Herald this Saturday; the coupon for his lunch will appear in tomorrow's paper version of the Herald.