This November, the Cambridge Literary Festival returns to present a packed programme of events over two days and in two venues.
As this National Year of Reading draws to a close, the Winter Festival will host a conversation between two former children’s laureates, Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Michael Morpurgo, whose lives have been devoted to the development of children’s reading.
Also present are Emily Wilson (pictured above), whose translation of The Odyssey was credited by Christopher Nolan as his inspiration for the recent film; Hermione Lee, who delves into the life of Booker Prize-winning novelist Anita Brookner; literary critic and cultural historian Jonathan Bate sharing his major new history, The Garden; and Mark Cocker and debut writer Cathy Haynes, who will discuss the wonders of the natural world.
International affairs will be represented by Ukrainian writers Andrey Kurkov and Sasha Dovzhyk and human rights journalist Zahra Joya, now living in exile in London after being airlifted out of Kabul in 2021.
Laura Kuenssberg zeroes in on the UK and calls on us all to Pay Attention in her latest book, examining the forces and personalities that have brought us where the country is today – and where we might be heading. Meanwhile, novelists including Elif Shafak, Patrick Gale, AK Blakemore and Lynda La Plante will share their anticipated books.
The Cambridge Literary Festival takes place on 21-22 November. Find out more and book tickets at cambridgeliteraryfestival.com