Get Set For Beverley Literature Festival

AN AFTERNOON OF HISTORY TO ROUND OFF 10TH BEVERLEY LITERATURE FESTIVAL

There’s a buzz in the air as the final preparations are underway for this year’s Beverley Literature Festival, which starts tomorrow. Now in its 13th year, this year’s festival promises to be the biggest and best yet.

Extending over 10 days, audiences will discover the very best in contemporary writing and current debate, with writers, historians and celebrities including Joanne Harris, David Starkey and Brian Blessed. Alongside a lively programme of author events, there are creative writing workshops, a fantastic children’s programme and even a link-up to the USA for a real-time interview with International Booker Prize winner, Lydia Davis. Fiction, politics, history, biography, comedy, sport and drama combine with moustaches, gardening, spacemen, tigers, jungles and cake to create a sparkling programme of events to excite audiences of all ages.

The festival launches on Thursday 1 October with international bestselling author Joanne Harris who will be discussing her break-out novel, The Gospel of Loki. On Friday 2 October, we welcome Queen of Chick Lit, Lisa Jewell, and Hull City of Culture chief, Rosie Millard, to talk books, life and everything else in between.

The weekend kicks off with the festival director in conversation with Marion Molteno, whose latest book is of global proportions – literally – as she gives a human face to the lives of people caught up in some of the most troubled parts of the world. The hugely popular Marina Lewycka will be revealing all as part of the first ever Beverley Big Read and she will be joined by some of East Riding Libraries’ lively reading groups from across the county – from North Bridlington, Snaith, Willerby and North Ferriby.

Following this, political heavyweight and historian, Kwasi Kwarteng, known to many as the ‘Black Boris’ for his robust views, will be talking about the most controversial figure in 20th century British politics – Margaret Thatcher.

Television presenter and archaeologist, Joann Fletcher, will be making her first appearance at the festival to introduce the story of Egypt – her most ambitious book yet. History remains on the agenda with our spectacular evening event at in the company of David Starkey – one of the UK’s leading historians. In his own inimitable style, enjoy his take on that most remarkable document, Magna Carta.

Sunday 4 October provides readers with a profusion of literary delights, beginning with popular scientist Kathryn Harkup. She takes an entertaining look at the most famous crime writer in the world – Agatha Christie – and her use of poison to finish off many a victim in her novels. From crime to capers – and Brian Cathcart. Brian will be describing the mad-cap adventure that is the true story of how the news of Britain’s triumph at Waterloo made it to the drawing rooms of London. It’s a tale that, in parts, is so absurd, it’s obviously true.

Next, gird your loins in readiness for Game of Rome – a gladiatorial battle of words with three heroes of Roman Fiction – Anthony Riches, Ben Kane and Nick Brown. Sunday night concludes with a glittering evening to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie, with one of the heirs to her throne – Sophie Hannah.

Beverley Library gets taken over for the weekend with a packed programme of events for children, including a welcome return of festival favourites, the Stephen Joseph Theatre and some surprising new faces will be bringing literature to life through storytelling, drawing and making. There’ll be a party atmosphere all weekend at the library and for tired adults and children, the Treasure House café will be open on Saturday and Sunday to re-fuel those who need a break in between all the excitement.

The woman of (many) words, Kate Fox, joins the festival on Tuesday 6 October bringing her sense of fun and sharp observations to the concept of ‘Northernness’ in her stand-up performance, Grin Up North. ‘The North’ continues to be a theme on Wednesday 7 October as popular playwright, John Godber, is joined by novelist, Helen Cross and poet, Peter Sansom to consider how the North has shaped their writing and their lives.

Thursday 8 October sees the festival being taken over by Beverley Film Society for a talk by Amy Davis on that most feisty of Jane Austen’s characters, Emma, to mark the book’s 200th anniversary. Amy will be taking an entertaining look at how Emma has been portrayed in film and her ‘Emma-thon’ includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Beckinsale, Romola Garai and Alicia Silverstone’s performance in Clueless – the modern-day take on this great novel.

On Friday 9 October, if you’re after that quintessential part of our history – mad dogs and Englishmen – look no further than Jenny Balfour Paul and Richard Tomlinson. Jenny will be discussing the life of Thomas Machell – local Beverley boy turned Indigo planter – whose adventurous life included a love affair with the daughter of a cannibal chief. Richard Tomlinson considers the most famous cricketing hero of all time, W G Grace. Grace’s life is revealed as if through the lens of a magic lantern – a vivid backdrop of a Victorian society populated by a host of almost Dickensian characters. Fast forward to the Fab Four with Mark Lewisohn, the world’s only professional Beatles historian, who will be retracing the steps of those four boys from Liverpool as part of his epic research into the real story of this most famous of all bands.

Friday evening ends with one of the UK’s national treasures, actor Brian Blessed, in conversation with Chris Monks, artistic director of the Stephen Joseph Theatre. A very special event to mark the actor’s life on the publication of his autobiography, Absolute Pandemonium – and with Brian around, that’s what the audience will be expecting!

Writers should block Beverley Literature Festival into their diaries on Saturday 10 October as it is a day all about them. The Business of Writing Part 1 welcomes some big names from the publishing world to Beverley to give their insiders’ view on the industry and their top tips on how to get published. The Business of Writing Part 2 looks at how to survive as a writer, from how to stay sane in front of a laptop through to paying the bills. Alongside these two special events, are two great authors – Lydia Davis the leading name in short-story writing and Piers Paul Read, both of whom will be discussing the craft of writing from their own unique perspectives.

Tickets for Beverley Literature Festival are available from www.bevlit.org, at the and children’s tickets can be bought over the counter at Beverley Library or by phoning the box office on 01482 392699.

Beverley Literature Festival is organised by Wordquake, part of East Riding Libraries. It is funded by and Arts Council England. The children’s programme receives additional support from the Beverley Building Society.



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