In conversation

Bedtime Story

Web sales have now closed, but there are tickets available at the door.

Let me tell you a story…

When Chloe Hooper’s partner is diagnosed with a rare and aggressive illness, she has to find a way to tell their two young sons. By instinct, she turns to the bookshelf. Can the news be broken as a bedtime tale? Is there a perfect book to prepare children for loss?

Hooper embarks on a quest to find what practical lessons children’s literature—with its innocent orphans and evil adults, magic, monsters and anthropomorphic animals—can teach about grief and resilience in real life. From the Brothers Grimm to Frances Hodgson Burnett and Tolkien and Dahl—all of whom suffered childhood bereavements—she follows the breadcrumbs of the world’s favourite authors, searching for the deep wisdom in their books and lives.

Both memoir and manual, Bedtime Story is stunningly illustrated by the New York Times award-winning Anna Walker. In an age of worldwide uncertainty, here is a profound and moving exploration of the dark and light of storytelling.

Chloe will be joined in conversation by Rachel Edwards, producer and content maker with ABC Hobart.

Join Chloe and Rachel at Hadley’s Hotel.

You can purchase tickets below. 

When buying multiple tickets, please be sure to fill in the correct name and email address for each attendee (you can do this at the Checkout) to facilitate contact tracing.