Beverley Literature Festival Picks Another Winner

Over the nine years it has been running, Beverley Literature Festival has brought Man Booker Prize winners to the event only days before they’ve won one of the world’s most prestigious literary competitions.

Past Man Booker Prize winners-in-waiting have included: Hilary Mantel, Sebastian Barry, and Anne Enright.

And it may prove to be the case again this year.  Carol Birch has been shortlisted for the Man Booker for her epic and entertaining novel Jamrach’s Managerie.  This is wonderful news for Carol and for readers in the East Riding.  But it has come at a price.

The festival has had to move her reading from Friday, 14 October to Thursday, 6 October at 8.30pm, when she will appear alongside former Booker-shorlisted author Ellen Feldman. This has been made necessary because the original date clashed with the awards-ceremony.

Anyone who holds a ticket for Carol Birch’s event on 14 October can attend what will now be a solo event with Julie Myerson AND have a free ticket for Carol’s new reading on 6 October.  Simply present your ticket for the 14 October on the door on the night of the 6th October.

John Wedgwood Clarke, festival director and East Riding Library’s literature development officer, said:

“It’s always wonderful news when an author you’ve admired and booked for the festival gets spotted by one of the big competitions. It makes such a difference to the sales of books for that author and helps to raise the profile of the festival.

But more than that, we’re simply delighted to be bringing another superb writer to the beautiful town of Beverley and to audiences who are well known for their warmth and interest.”

Other authors appearing at the Beverley Liteature Festival include: Margaret Drabble, Val McDermid, Jon Ronson, Oliver Burkeman and many more, including a fun weekend of word-based events for children at Beverley Treasure House, 8-9 October.

For more information about the programme go to www.bevlit.org For further information and to arrange interviews contact John.clarke@eastriding.gov.uk Tickets available on 01482 392699 (office hours), Beverley TIC and from www.bevlit.org