BEST-SELLING author Fay Weldon capped off the third Poole Word and Book Festival by talking about her life story and her new book, Mantrapped, at Poole's Lighthouse.

Interviewed in front of a well-attended audience by Sally Winter, the 73-year author, who now lives in Shaftesbury, discussed everything from her upbringing in New Zealand to the changing roles of men and women and from her association with feminism to the relationship today between writer and readers.

Ms Weldon, whose second husband, Ron, came from Bournemouth, also read excerpts from her latest book that breaks fresh ground by being part memoir and part fiction.

Questioned from the audience about which book she would choose if she could only read one book again in her life, the author of novels such as Down Among the Women and The Life and Loves of a She-Devil chose... the Bible.

First published: Oct 13