THREE GREAT LITERARY SHINDIGS

1. The Hay Festival

Takes place every year in Hay-on-Wye, Wales. Along with talks by authors punting their works you’ll also find such marvellous things as Stephen Fry and Christopher Hitchens discussing blasphemy. May 23June 2. hayfestival.com

2. The Los Angeles Festival of Books

Heavyweight newspaper LA Times throws considerable financial largesse at the arts: and this festival attracts not only writers but also poets, artists, filmmakers and musicians and a crowd of 150,000 people. April 13-14. events.latimes.com

3. The Franschhoek Literary Festival

SA’s finest writers, poets and bookish types come for the talks, the good food and the general bonhomie that settles over the town. If you’ve never been to “FLF”, make this the year. May 17-19. flf.co.za