Esther Freud

Set in 1914, Mr Mac and Me tells the story of Thomas, the son of the local publican, living with his family in Walberswick on the Suffolk coast. Life is quiet and uneventful, shaped by the seasons, the fishing and the farming.

The arrival of great architect and artist Charles Rennie Mackintosh spells change for this sleepy idyll, and also marks the beginning of an unlikely and fascinating friendship for Thomas. Trouble arrives, however,  in the shape of the First World War; the brutality of the conflict taints the peace of the small village, and Charles Mackintosh, with his peculiar behaviour and sudden appearance, falls under deep suspicion.

In this beautiful story, Esther Freud’s crisp prose paints a clear and poignant picture of a community facing the prospect of war, and a warm biographical portrait of one of our most brilliant artists. Come along to hear Esther discuss Suffolk, its attractions for the artistic community and the misunderstood life of the wonderful Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Unmissable.