Book lovers crammed in the Jury’s Hotel in Bristol to meet writer and humanitarian Terry Waite and bestselling novelist Faith Bleasdale.

Some 130 people were at the fourth Bristol Evening Post Literary Lunch.

Terry spoke of his experiences as a hostage in Lebanon in the 1980s, his charitable work with homeless charity Emmaus, and his reflections on life and the world we live in.

Recalling his five years in solitary confinement he joked about the books one of his captors would bring him – as the guard spoke no English, the irony of delivering The Great Escape escaped him.

Those at the event, organised by Evening Post deputy editor Stan Szecowka, also heard Faith Bleasdale explain her route to literary success.

Now writing her fourth novel, the 30-year-old former Bristol University history student talked about her latest book Peep Show, which examines about the voyeuristic nature of our society – focusing in particular on reality television shows.

She said: “Once I found a good agent, I was quite lucky because it only took seven months to have my first book published.

“I also came on the scene at a time when females writers who followed the same vein as Bridget Jones’ Diary were popular.”

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