National treasures, comedians, politicians, prize-winning authors and inspirational figures from the world’s literati will descend on Cambridge this month for the ever-popular Cambridge Literary Festival.
“I am really excited about the line-up for the April festival,” says founder and director Cathy Moore. “There is a richness and variety to the programme, with some truly exceptional highlights.”
The festival starts on 14 April, with a word from Professor Barry Eichengreen, author of Hall of Mirrors. He’ll be questioning our capacity to learn from the past and asking what measures should be taken if a third great financial crisis is to be avoided (6pm, The Winstanley Lecture Theatre, £6-£10).
Thriller writers SJ Watson (When I Go To Sleep) and Christobel Kent (the Sandro Cellini series) will be in conversation at the same venue on 15 April (7.30pm, £6/£10), and on 17 April Queen of Shops Mary Portas will give an insight into her entertaining and touching memoir, Shop Girl, at the Union Chamber (7pm, £6/£11). Stick around for Roger McGough at the same venue, 8.30pm. The celebrated poet will be delighting audiences with readings from his new book of poetry, As Far As I Know (£7/£13).
On 18 April, join Labour party councillor Georgia Gould, former teacher and columnist Chloe Combi and presenter and journalist Rick Edwards, as they discuss the issues facing today’s young people. What Future for the Younger Generation? starts at 11.30am at The Winstanley (£5/£10). Later that day, at the same venue, the Goldsmith Prize-winning authors Eimear McBride and Ali Smith will be discussing the modern novel in The Great Experiment (2.30pm, £6/£10).
On the evening of the 18th, Comedian Omid Djalili introduces us to his memoir, Hopeful, at the Union Chamber (9pm, £6/£12).
On Sunday 19 April, the magnificent Celia Imrie will share the thoughts and experiences that went into writing her first novel, Not Quite Nice. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel star will be joined by festival director Cathy Moore for what’s sure to be a charming and entertaining chat at the Union Chamber (4pm, £6-£11).
Our interest has been piqued by Anita Anand’s book Sophia: Princess, Suffragette, Revolutionary, which she will be discussing on 19 April at The Winstanley. It tells the remarkable story of Sophia Duleep Singh, daughter of an Indian Maharajah, who was brought up in Suffolk and fought fearlessly for Indian independence and women’s suffrage (4pm, £6/£10).
If, like us, you saw and loved The Theory of Everything, don’t miss the opportunity to discover more about the memoirs on which the film was based, as Jane Hawking talks us through her book, Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen, at the Union Chamber, 19 April (8.30pm, £6/£12). She’ll be joined by Anthony McCarten, who brought her story to the big screen.
Children’s programme
Meet Fitz and Will, the Cambridge cats invented by author Laura Robson Brown, who will be reading from her new book, The Graduation Adventure, featuring her loveable felines (18 April, 10am, Union Blue Room; £6).
A children’s author whose work has delighted generations, Judith Kerr (The Tiger Who Came To Tea, When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit) will discuss her life and work on 18 April at the Union Chamber (11.30am, £7). Born in Berlin, she was forced to flee Germany aged nine and is still producing iconic books in her nineties.
Also on the 18th, Cambridge gets a visit from Dennis, Gnasher and friends. Explore Beanotown with your guide, author Steven Butler, in Mayhem with Dennis the Menace, at the Union Blue Room (1pm, £6).
Anthony Horowitz has delighted millions of fans with his adventure stories starring superspy Alex Rider. Don’t miss his insight into these thrilling stories, chaired by Steve Cole, author of the Young Bond series (18 April, Union Chamber, 2.30pm, £7).
Cambridge Literary Festival, 14-19 April
www.cambridgeliteraryfestival.com
