There is a packed programme of talks and events for Marlborough LitFest’s tenth anniversary year – and it’s all there between the covers of the brochure, which is released today (June 27).
On the front cover is former Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell’s specially commissioned tenth birthday design. This year the brochure is being released two weeks before the box office opens – ‘to give people time to plan’.
The box office opens on Thursday, 11 July – and details of when-where-and-how you can buy tickets will appear on marlborough.news soon. LitFest 2019 runs from Thursday, 26 September to Sunday, 29 September.
Ben Okri is the 2019 Golding Speaker. A mong others appearing will be: Ian Rankin, Joanne Harris, Carol Ann Duffy, Robert Harris, Cressida Cowell and David Baddiel.
Other highlights include:
- Translation Duel – returning again due to popular demand: this year focusing on Italian translation from Elena Ferrante.
The Hiscox Debut Authors – championing new writing talent, – with Elizabeth Macneal (The Doll Factory) and Stacey Hall (The Familiars).- Archaeologist Mike Pitts on Digging up Britain – a vision of our country back through time from the Vikings – based on ten spectacular digs.
- Creative writing workshop for adults with author Stephen May.
- Scientist Dr Mark Broomfield addresses air quality and health in his first book, Every Breath You Take: A User’s Guide to the Atmosphere.
- Virginia Nicholson examines the lives of women in the 20th century in her latest social history book in How Was it For You?
- A biography of composer, author and socialite, Alma Mahler, who lived at the epicentre of fin-de-siècle Vienna – by Cate Haste.
- Former mental health nurse turned author, Nathan Filer, explores schizophrenia in his second book, In The Heartland: Finding and Losing Schizophrenia.
- Food journalist and author Bee Wilson charts our complex relationship with food and nutrition in her latest book, The Way We Eat Now: Strategies for Eating in a World of Change.
- Nature, travel, adventure, politics and the environment are encompassed in Adam Weymouth’s book, Kings of the Yukon: An Alaskan River Journey
- The history of Christianity is explored by Tom Holland in his new book, Dominion.
Poetry in the Pub – the annual festival open mic favourite returns, with a chance for amateur or published poets to read poems on the theme of ‘Truth’.- Big Town Read – Raynor Winn’s uplifting book, The Salt Path, has been chosen for local book groups to read
- What the Papers Say – LitFest brings its very own version of the Sunday morning survey of news and gossip with a panel including live cartoon drawing from author and illustrator, Chris Riddell. He will also appear during the Festival to talk about his latest book.
The Hiscox Debut Authors – championing new writing talent, – with Elizabeth Macneal (The Doll Factory) and Stacey Hall (The Familiars).
Poetry in the Pub – the annual festival open mic favourite returns, with a chance for amateur or published poets to read poems on the theme of ‘Truth’.2019 Outreach programmes:
Ther are free events for local primary and secondary schools as well as an annual primary school competition, with prizes donated by Haine & Smith Opticians. A few lucky schools will have the added bonus of being able to choose books up to £200 in value for their school library.
Further afield, LitFest is supporting a visit by Maz Evans, author of Who Let the Gods Out, to St Margaret’s in Calne for their local primary schools.
LitFest is working with the Friends of Erlestoke and Erlestoke’s prison library to help provide book bags for children o visiting family members and to arrange a talk by our Big Town Read author Raynor Winn.
To celebrate the centenary year of Save the Children, LitFest is working with the charity and local schools through a children’s picture book, to show the obstacles overcome by child refugees. Children have been invited to express their reaction to the story through any medium and the results will be exhibited in the Town Hall during the LitFest and afterwards in Marlborough Library.
Marlborough and District Dyslexia Association is running two events for children with an award-winning dyslexic author and illustrator.
Genevieve Clarke is the Chair of Marlborough LitFest: “The LitFest has come a long way in ten years. We’re thrilled to be celebrating our first decade with established literary names, plenty of writers just starting out, a mix of themes, creative workshops and a fabulous children’s programme.”
“We’ve also stepped up our commitment to outreach as a way of drawing in new audiences from Marlborough and beyond. I’d like to thank our committee, volunteers and sponsors for all their help in putting together an exciting programme for 2019.”
Ten years the lead sponsor
The tenth anniversary is also a good time to celebrate LitFest’s lead sponsor, Brewin Dolphin, which has supported the festival from the very start. The investment management company has generously donated the total sum of £55,000 to Marlborough LitFest since 2010, which has enabled LitFest to bring a range of authors, literature events and outreach programmes to the town over the past 10 years.
The festival could not have got started in 2010 without the initial financial donation from Brewin Dolphin and is grateful for its continued support. LitFest relies solely on its sponsors for financial backing.
Myles Palmer is Divisional Director of Brewin Dolphin: “As an office, we believe it is very important to be involved in local activities and we are delighted to have supported the efforts of the Marlborough LitFest since it started 10 years ago.”
“The festival has been a great success and the Committee always feature a fantastic line-up of brilliant authors. Over the years, the festival has grown in popularity and is now a highlight in people’s diaries as one of the best events here in Marlborough”.
Festival brochures are now available at The White Horse Bookshop or to view online: www.marlboroughlitfest.org
And a reminder: the Box Office opens on Thursday, 11 July 2019.
