More from Monty
Monty Lit Fest is back next month for its seventh instalment. Jenny White previews the best events
IT STARTED in a garden in 2018, but Monty Lit Fest has grown considerably since then, becoming a signi cant literary event that brings key literary names to the Welsh border town of Montgomery. “It was set up originally as a fairly local festival, but on the on the strength of the quality of it, we now have we have people coming in from quite a distance,” says Suzy Davies, the marketing member of the organising committee.
“A lot of local people are interested in literature and are particularly keen on seeing Wales and the Borders represented in quite an informal way: even though there are some quite high-pro le authors coming, the atmosphere is very relaxed.”
e festival returns for its seventh edition on the weekend of Friday, June 7, to Sunday, June 9, with the events mostly based in Montgomery town hall.
“Montgomery is a lovely Marcher town with lovely shops and a beautiful setting,” says Suzy. “e historic castle is right above the town hall and is a great place to visit. It’s a great place to have a festival and it has a very lively community presence.”
She adds that the setting and relaxed atmosphere are key reasons why authors are eager to attend, and often return year after year.
Key gures at this year’s even include Carmarthenshire-based historian Nathen Amin, an expert on King Henry VII whose latest book Son of Prophecy explores Henry’s signi cance as the prophesied saviour of the Welsh people.
Folklorist Delyth Badder will be discussing her book e Folklore of Wales: Ghosts, covering death omens, ghost stories and rsthand accounts; and music journalist Neil Collins will be discussing his book International Velvet: the story of Cool Cymru and how bands such as Catatonia, Manic Street Preachers, Stereophonics and Super Furry Animals conquered the 90s charts.
On the Sunday, author and poet Sian Hughes will discuss her Booker Prize-listed debut novel
Pearl, which follows a motherless child in modern rural Border country seeking solace through a medieval poem.
Other highlights include Brecon-based writer David Moore on his book on the Welsh artist Ray Howard-jones. Ray Howard-jones: My Hand is the Voice of the Sea resurrects the memory of this once renowned woman war artist, sea painter and mosaicist, rightly positioning her as one of the most signi cant Welsh artists of the 20th century.
Gwrych Castle, the lockdown location for I’m A Celebrity... is the subject of Escape to Gwrych Castle by Andrew Hesketh, and on the Saturday he will be telling the story of how this once-grand country house in North Wales became home to 200 Jewish Kindertransport children during World War Two.
Besides the literary events, the festival includes a quiz night and music, culminating with a Cymanfa Ganu in St Nicholas Church with Professor M Wynn
omas, Welsh music specialist Sioned Webb and Côr Penybontfawr on the Sunday at 5pm. With audience participation essential, the event is based around omas’ book Poems from the Soul: Twelve of the Great Hymns of Wales, which he will be discussing this with Sioned Webb, who as well as being a well-known musician and composer, who is also a collector of Welsh folk music.
“It will be based on hymns that everybody knows,” says Suzy. “Sioned is bringing a harp and is interviewing M Wynn omas, and it’s supported by the audience participating in the singing, led by Côr Penybontfawr, a local male voice choir.”
She adds that this event embodies the community spirit of the festival.
“It’s got a very speci c atmosphere and that’s partly to do with the community and partly the enthusiasm of the writers, who are very up close and personal: you can have a cup of tea with them after their events; they become your friends and that’s why it’s called ‘the friendly festival.’ “
Monty Literature Festival tickets are available from www. montylitfest.com.
Besides the literary events, the festival includes a quiz night and music, culminating with a Cymanfa Ganu in St Nicholas Church