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The University of Leicester is hosting a festival to celebrate the city's literary associations.

Leicester has inspired a great deal of literature and is (or has been) the home of many writers, some very famous.

For example, the great poet Philip Larkin was librarian at the university from 1946, and wrote a number of memorable poems in the city.

Larkin in Love

Here he began his long love affair with Monica Jones, a lecturer in English. His voluminous correspondence with Monica is the subject of what promises to be a fascinating session on 29 October 2008.

Whilst Larkin was in Leicester his friend Kingsley Amis visited him. It was Amis's encounter with the rather sleepy university college that provided the germ for his huge success Lucky Jim.

Indeed, Jim Dixon, the hero of the novel, is called that because Larkin was living on Dixon Drive.

Morse Decoded

Another author with strong local connections is Colin Dexter, creator of Chief Inspector Morse.

Author Colin Dexter

Morse first appeared in the novel 'Last Bus to Woodstock' in 1975, and featured in a further thirteen novels.

The novels were adapted for television, and the Morse series ran to more than 30 episodes, starring John Thaw and Kevin Whately.

Colin Dexter began writing part-time during a 13-year teaching career, including a period as Assistant Classics Master at Wyggeston School, Leicester.

Colin is an entertaining speaker and his session on 01 November 2008 is bound to be very crowded.

A Mole in the City

Perhaps the most famous writer produced by the city is Sue Townsend, whose hilarious Adrian Mole novels have immortalised Leicester.

Sue Townsend was born in Leicester in 1946 and continues to live in the city.

'The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 1/2' and its sequel, 'The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole' were both number one bestsellers, and made Sue Townsend the best-selling novelist of the 1980s.

On 01 November 2008 Sue will be doing a question and answer session, and earlier in the day you can see documents and objects relating to her life and fiction.

Adele Parks

From Lodge to d'Lacey

Other writers associated with Leicester appearing at the festival include crime writer Jane Adams, chick-lit exponent Adele Parks, novelist and critic David Lodge and children's writers Chris d'Lacey and Pippa Goodhart.

Jane and Adele, together with biographer Andrew Biswell, will be quizzed by BBC Leicester's John Florance on 30 October 2008.

Most of the events are absolutely free but are ticketed. Click here to visit the Literary Leicester website: