Boswell Book Festival
27-Apr-2011Literary festival marks full-scale revival of James Boswell,
one of Scotland's greatest literary lights
www.boswellbookfestival.co.uk
Auchinleck, Ayrshire, SCOTLAND- The Boswell Book Festival (BBF) has announced its programme for its inaugural year, which will be held 20-22 May 2011 in the grounds of Auchinleck House in Ayrshire. The achievement of James Boswell (1740-1795), who invented the genre of modern biography, with his Life of Samuel Johnson in 1791 will be celebrated at the BBF by putting the art of biography and memoir today on show with performances, discussions and live talks with some of the UK’s leading practitioners including Diana Athill, Kate Adie, Bill Paterson and Selina Hastings. The BBF is – we understand - the only named literary festival in the UK to take place at the author’s own house.
Alistair Moffat, author and director of Borders and Lennoxlove book festivals, says:
“‘Robert Burns’ legacy is wonderful and worldwide – but there is much more to literary Ayrshire than the ploughman poet. With the Boswell Book Festival Caroline Knox has created a sparkling celebration based on the work of another son of Ayrshire. Auchinleck House will buzz once again in May when writers come to talk, debate and entertain. It promises to be an unmissable debut and a real adornment to the flourishing phenomenon that is Scotland’s book festivals.”
The Friday evening opening celebration brings Boswell vividly to life with a concert performance of the award-winning dramatic monologue, ‘BOZZY: An Evening of ‘Carnality, Calvinism, Claret and Conviviality with Dr Johnson’s biographer,’ starring the distinguished Scottish actor David McKail.
Diana Athill, OBE, national bestselling memoirist says:
“When his [Boswell’s] own account of himself enables us to know him better, perhaps, even than his own wife did, he seems to embody the human comedy -- the endless conflict between our aspirations and our failures -- more vividly than any other writer.”
On Saturday, Diana Athill, along with Alistair Urquhart (former Japanese prisoner of war), is one of two remarkable nonagenarians speaking who have mined the rich seam of their extraordinary lives to produce bestselling memoirs,. Also appearing is renowned actor Bill Paterson who will be talking about his Glaswegian childhood as well as his career on screen and stage. Next, a discussion brimming with anecdotes between two literary gossips, Selina Hastings and fellow biographer James Knox, ‘On the Biographer’s Trail,’ addresses the central challenge of writing biography today. Allan Burnett and David McClay survey the remarkable contributions of West coast Scots to exploration and invention in, ‘Best of the West: Inventors, Innovators and Icons.’ The day concludes with Kate Adie OBE reliving her life as a front line reporter with the BBC.
The programme on Sunday widens the theme of biography beyond individuals to include that of the Scottish nation with Alistair Moffat’s trailblazing study of the history printed in the Scottish gene pool. Dr Gordon Turnbull, the leading Boswell expert from Yale University in the USA, where the famous Boswell papers are housed, conveys the pleasures of engaging with Boswell’s genius on a daily basis. Candia McWIlliam, tells of her journey through blindness which unblocked a flow of confessional memories. Her account has been described as ‘startling, discomforting ... hilarious and heart-rending’ Finally, Lynne Truss, bestselling author of Eats, Shoots and Leaves, delights with tales of her years as a sports writer and her love of Ayrshire’s favourite sport, golf.
Located at Auchinleck House, the BBF offers Festival-goers the chance to enjoy learning more about Boswell at home. Timed pre-booked tours of the House - numbers limited - will be available through the Box Office. The best of Ayrshire’s local produce will be served at the Festival Café Bar with Ayrshire Farmhouse Ice Cream also on sale.
The Boswell Book Festival (BBF) is run by a charitable trust, The Boswell Museum and Mausoleum Trust which was established in 2010 to restore the Boswell Mausoleum in Auchinleck churchyard and to create in the adjoining seventeenth century Boswell Aisle the only museum anywhere to celebrate the life and work of the great biographer and Ayrshireman, James Boswell.
James Knox, chairman of the BMMT says:
‘The joining of Boswell’s great Georgian house with his own art as a writer is unique. The Festival like our Trust is all part of the cultural regeneration of this fascinating pocket of Ayrshire where genius and architectural splendours flourish whether in Boswell, Burns, or the neighbouring Adam masterpiece Dumfries House.”
The BBF thanks the European LEADER fund, the Cumnock and Doon Valley Minerals Trust, SCORE, and the John R Murray Trust for their invaluable support in the funding of this Festival. A special thanks is also extended to the Landmark Trust, and BBF’s media partner London Review of Books.
THE BOSWELL BOOK FESTIVAL, 20-22 MAY 2011Full programme and additional information: www.boswellbookfestival.co.uk
BOX OFFICE: 01563 554900 (Palace Theatre Kilmarnock for the Boswell Book Festival)
Lines open Mon-Sat 10.00am – 5.00pm,
In Person: From 20 May our Box Office Counter is on site at:
Boswell Book Festival Box Office, Auchinleck House,
Ochiltree, Ayrshire KA18 2AU
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