I want to apologize for the weather; having lived in Sussex for many years, I remember it always being sunny.
As the honored Patron of Charleston, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to this year's Literary Festival.
Charleston has been aptly described by a past resident as "an earthly paradise.
" Before coming here, I was asked to think about an author whose books I cherished when I was your age.
Selecting a favorite writer is always a challenge due to the multitude of talented authors out there.
However, I have decided to talk about a Victorian novelist who passed away exactly a century ago.
Let me clarify that I am not Victorian myself, despite any suspicions you may have had.
Frances Hodgson Burnett, like all of us, recognized the profound joy of reading.
She authored famous works such as The Secret Garden and A Little Princess.
One of her characters was described as finding it extremely challenging to control her temper when interrupted while engrossed in a book – a sentiment many of us can relate to.
Frances also intricately grasped the allure of secret gardens, much like the one we have here.
Indeed, books and gardens share many similarities.
Frances understood this concept, as did the renowned writers who once inhabited Charleston.
Books and gardens are steadfast companions we can always rely on.
They possess the ability to console, uplift, and connect us to both people and nature, serving as a reminder that we are never alone.
They hold a unique enchantment over our imaginations.
In the story, the protagonist Mary Lennox witnesses the magic of "the secret garden bloomed and bloomed and every morning revealed new miracles.
" Similar enchantment can be found in the library at Misselthwaite Manor where she resided.
Now, without further delay, let us immerse ourselves in a bit of that magic.
I officially declare today's Festival open! As we part ways, let me leave you with this thought from Frances: "Everything's a story - You are a story - I am a story.
" Thank you.