Literature

The best literary festivals around the country

W riters are uniquely positioned to reveal truths about our world,’ says Hay

Festival founder, Peter Florence. Margaret Atwood’s

The Handmaid’s Tale, for example – interviewing the author about her modern classic was Peter’s personal highlight of Hay 2018. ‘ The book has found such a piquant new context; great literature is always ! nding new relevance. It’s hard not to be beguiled by Atwood’s wit and wisdom into thinking she has some kind of omniscience.’ Among the 800 or so events at this year’s festival, from 23rd May-2nd June in Hay- on-Wye, are appearances from Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jared Diamond, Nobel Prizescooping biologist Venki Ramakrishnan, and Man Booker Prize 2018 winner, Anna Burns. hayfestival.com

No names con ! rmed at the time of press for The Bath

Festival from 17th-26th May ( bathfestivals.org.uk). As a pointer, last year’s book- centric highlights included Margaret Drabble conversing with Linda Grant, poetry from Ben Okri, and a panel of female crime writers. Programme details also remain under wraps for Cheltenham Literature

Festival, but expect a gathering of more than 600 writers and book-touting actors, politicians, poets and sporting folk, plus a dedicated festival for young people and families, from 4th-13th October ( cheltenhamfestivals.com).

Louis de Bernières, Ann Cleeves and John Gray were among the bookish brains gathering last autumn for

Wigtown Book Festival. Details of who will follow them to Scotland’s National Book Town for this year’s event, from 27th September6th October, will be released later in the year ( wigtownbookfestival.com).

Altogether more de! nite, authors Philip Pullman, Salley Vickers and Jacqueline Wilson will convene in London on 10th March for the British Library’s discussion For the

Love of Libraries, mixing reminiscence with talk about how these threatened crucibles of culture are vitally important to future generations ( bl.uk).