It's even a good thing to be covered in rain and mud, it's a marker for your sincerity."You make a tiny little sacrifice, but it's a measure of people's love of fine writing that they come here."One more thing. The first time he went into the green room, some years ago, he found himself standing beside Toni Morrison, Stephen Hawking and David Hare. Like all solitary writers, he likes the company of writers and assorted celebrities "There used to be literary salons once," he said "And now there's festivals like this." Gosh Sothat's what we're all doing here.. For seven years Eden Strang hid his increasing insanity from the outside world. To his neighbours in Brook Road, Thornton Heath, he was a "normal bloke". They did not know he saw them as devil worshippers intent on invading his home and attacking his family For seven years Eden Strang hid his increasing insanity from the outside world. To his neighbours in Brook Road, Thornton Heath, he was a "normal bloke".

They did not know he saw them as devil worshippers intent on invading his home and attacking his family The young man who had suffered a tragic and abusive childhood at the hands of drug addict parents had appeared to make the best of life. He held down a good job, looking after his young wife and daughter. "People did not realise how disturbed he was," psychiatrist Jonathan Vince told the Old Bailey. "He failed to get the attention from the mental health services which he should have received. He was not treated for seven years and that was why it had developed to such an extreme level."Strang, his wife Michelle and daughter Olivia, then three, had moved into the south London housing association flat in September 1996 He was an IT consultant. Few realised his obsession and dedication to work was fuelled by a fear that his family would be killed in "the apocalypse" if he did anything wrong.

He believed his computer was the Ark of Covenant and his link to God. At night, he believed, the devil would talk to him and sexually abuse him, his wife and his daughter. Their denials only proved they had become devil worshippers.He thought he was telepathic and other people could read his thoughts Aliens on television were speaking to him. These were "classic symptoms of schizophrenia" said consultant forensic psychiatrist Philip Joseph, yet Strang was able to maintain a good work record. Only his closest family and friends noted intermittent bizarre behaviour.In 1994, an aunt had insisted he get counselling at Maudsley psychiatric hospital Strang went to only a couple sessions.