The big book weekend
Marlborough LitFest returns at the end of the month
... fiction, nonfiction, poetry, children’s authors, literary events/ workshops, outreach
Marlborough LitFest weekend is back at the end of this month (September 29-October 2).
In its 13th year, it offers over 40 events during the festival weekend, with a mix of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, children’s authors, literary events/workshops, outreach events and LitFest’s annual Big Town Read. The line-up includes 2022 Golding Speaker Ali Smith, as well as Kamila Shamsie, Patrick Gale, Pam Ayres, Clover Stroud, Max Hastings, Benedict Allen and children’s author Jacqueline Wilson.
Highlights include Hannah Lowe, reading poetry from her 2021 Costa Award-winning book The Kids ,in Marlborough College’s Memorial Hall.
The annual Hiscox Debut Authors slot will champion the emerging writing talent of Ayanna Lloyd Banwo and Bobby Palmer.
Local archaeologist and author Mike Pitts will talk about his latest book, How to Build Stonehenge, and prize-winning author of books on landscape, place, literature and history, Adam Nicolson, on his new book Life Between the Tides.
Local Wiltshire vicar, the Rev Colin Heber-Percy, is in conversation with Bishop of Ramsbury Andrew Rumsey about the role of the parish church during the pandemic and their recent books, Tales of a Country Parish and In English Grounds: A Pastoral Journal. Scottish Bengali author Abir Mukherjee makes a welcome return to LitFest to discuss his latest historical crime fiction book The Shadows of Men and this year’s Translation Duel will feature German-language experts Shaun Whiteside and Ruth Martin discussing a tale from the Brothers Grimm, chaired by Daniel Hahn. Author and journalist Anita Sethi and travel writer Simon Parker will discuss their travelling experiences in Britain in 2019/20 – Anita walked the Pennine Way; Simon completed a 3,500-mile bike ride around Britain – in their books, I Belong Here and Riding Out.
Louise Willder has been writing the ‘blurbs’ on the back of books for Penguin for 25 years and 5,000 of them later, she’s broken free and written a whole book – Blurb Your Enthusiasm: An A-Z of Literary Persuasion. Bestselling author and creative writing teacher Cathy Rentzenbrink will lead a memoir writing workshop.
The annual Collectable Books Roadshow with local rare book expert Chris Gange is at Katharine House Gallery.
Poetry in the Pub returns to
The Green Dragon pub with the popular open mic poetry event for poets of any age, chaired by Alex Hickman. This year’s theme is
‘The Environment’ – submit your poems in advance to general@ marlboroughlitfest.org and these will be read first.
There are children’s events too with children’s authors to invited local schools.
This year’s Big School Read for local secondary school children, hosted at St John’s Academy in Marlborough, is Simon James Green, one of the UK’s leading writers of LGBTQ+ teen fiction. Green’s books include
Gay Club!, Sleepover Takeover and You’re the One That I Want.
Back for 2022, sixth formers from St John’s Academy will hold a literarythemed debate at Marlborough Town Hall – this year’s subject is love and jealousy in literature.
Under-fives will be treated to an hour of fun with award-winning author and illustrator Morag Hood, at The White Horse Bookshop, with interactive storytelling and live drawing and award-winning children’s author Tracey Corderoy will be chatting about The Story Shop: Blast Off!, to five- to eight-yearolds at this year’s LitFest, promising
a space game and some interactive drawing too.
Marlborough LitFest chairwoman Genevieve Clarke said: “We’re thrilled to be back with a full and varied programme of live events. We’ve enjoyed putting it together and hope there’s plenty for regular festival goers and those coming along for the first time. We look forward to seeing you!”
All the details are on https://www. marlboroughlitfest.org/
Festival brochures are available from The White Horse Bookshop, Marlborough High Street.