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So
popular has Cheltenham’s October literature festival become that
two years ago organisers decided to add a new chapter in the form
of a spring mini-festival.
This
year’s Spring Weekend is the biggest so far with more than 50 events
to whet literary appetites.
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| Lord
of the Rings author JRR Tolkien will be discussed. |
The
programme features some of Britain’s best-known writers including
William Boyd, Hanif Kureishi, Tariq Ali, Marina Warner and Victoria
Glendenning.
There
will also be discussion of the life and work of such varied authors
as JRR Tolkien, Anthony Trollope, Primo Levi and Beatrix Potter.
Former BBC Today presenter Sue McGregor will also take the stage
to talk about her life in broadcasting.
Former
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher had been due to discuss her new
book Statecraft, but had to pull out last month after suffering
a series of strokes that caused doctors to advise her to give up
public speaking.
On
a lighter note the weekend will also include what is now a favourite
festival feature - the Chelt’n’Slam poetry slam where verbal jousters
compete to see who can ‘stanza and deliver’ winning rhymes in quickfire
time.
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| Angelina
Ballerina is one of the treats for young readers. |
For
younger bookworms there are two days of treats in the junior festival
section Book It!. Here kids can meet children’s authors Bel
Mooney, Philip Ridley, Kevin Crossley-Holland, Kaye Umansky and
Celia Rees, have drawing lessons with illustrators and tiny tots
can meet picture-book favourites Angelina Ballerina, Maisy Mouse,
Kipper the playful puppy, and Percy the Park-Keeper.
Think
you’ve got a novel in you? Or do you fancy being a screenwriter?
Perhaps penning books for children appeals to you? The
weekend’s Write Away creative writing workshops led by experts in
each field could be the stepping stone to a place of your own on
the nation’s bookshelves.
Cheltenham
Festival of Literature Spring Weekend is at Cheltenham Town Hall
from Friday April 5 to Sunday April 7. For more information call
the box office on 01242 227979.
Find
about other Gloucestershire festivals on our festival
listings page.
Are
you organising a county festival? Tell us all about it at gloucestershire@bbc.co.uk
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