Londoner’s Diary
Wars have many tragic casualties, among them friendships. Since the start of the Gaza conflict last year, a schism has been opening up at the top of the British literary world between those who support Israel’s war aims and those wanting an immediate ceasefire.
One of the cosiest coteries affected by the war is the Cliveden literary set, the circle of authors who annually gravitate towards Cliveden House in Berkshire for its literary festival, organised by Simon Sebag Montefiore, Natalie Livingstone, Andrew Roberts and Catherine Ostler.
Historian William Dalrymple, the author of extensive books on Asia and the Middle East, has vocally criticised the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza on X. This has drawn the ire of his friend Sebag Montefiore.
The pair have been conducting a tense but largely polite back and forth about the war on the social media platform, in which they studiously refer to each other as “dear William” and “dear Sebag”. Yesterday, when Sebag Montefiore criticised Israel’s discussions on restricting access to the Al-Aqsa mosque during Ramadan, Dalrymple counselled with a slightly patronising: “Well done Sebag! Keep it up!”
Meanwhile fellow Cliveden man Lord Roberts made a speech in parliament this week praising the Israeli Defence Forces.
Other establishment figures have been drawn into the fray, with Ben Goldsmith far less civilly comparing Dalrymple to Lord Haw Haw, the Nazi propagandist, a remark since deleted. Goldsmith’s sister Jemima, an author and journalist, has weighed into Dalrymple’s defence and criticised her brother’s position.
The Cliveden festival was founded in 2017 to bring together literary talents from across the world for a weekend that combines cerebral talks with sumptuous dinners. It has been described by one attendee as “the most dignified and beautiful literary festival on the planet”. The festival is usually put on with the collaboration of Tatler magazine and the well-connected founders draw on a wide pool of potential guests.
Despite tensions between some Cliveden regulars and the founders over the war, we hear they are keeping things civil for the sake of the festival.
