BBC Proms Literary Festival

What? The BBC Proms, considered the biggest musical event in the UK comes alive not only through music, but also through words. Key historians, novelists, poets and writers discuss the cultural themes behind the music. Topics embody Great British heritage and culture: from descriptions of climbing Everest, to the myths surrounding Elizabeth I, to celebrating the infamous villains from Victorian fiction.

Who? 2010 TBA

When? 2010 TBA

Where? The Albert Hall, Cadogan Hall or Royal College of Music, London AA Route Planner | multimap

How much? Prices may depend on purchasing tickets (£8-£44) for each Prom . All discussions will be broadcast on Radio 3…which is free.

Festival Website: www.bbc.co.uk/proms Tel: 0845 401 5040

Previous festivals: 17th July – 12th September 2009

Andrew Motion, Ian McMillan, Philip Pullaman, Stephen Venables, Alison Weir, D. J. Taylor and Jamila Gavin. Program below

Proms Literary Festival 2009

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New this year is the Proms Literary Festival, exploring themes of the Proms season, and the relationship between writers and composers.

Saturday 19 July, 4.45pm (before Prom 2)
Hermione Lee discusses English Romanticism from William Wordsworth to Thomas Hardy with Duncan Wu, Paul Farley and Kate Kennedy.
Free to ticket-holders. Edited broadcast on Radio 3 later this evening.

Sunday 20 July, 5.45pm (before Prom 5)
Ian McMillan and his Orchestra present a cabaret of words and music, showcasing the connections between folk music, poetry and storytelling.
Free to all. Edited broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's interval.

Wednesday 23 July, 5.15pm (before Prom 9)
Matthew Sweet profiles the cultural events of 1958, with writers Alan Sillitoe and Anthony Thwaite, and historian Dominic Sandbrook.
Free to ticket- holders. Edited broadcast on Radio 3 later this evening.

Tuesday 29 July, 5.45pm (before Prom 16)
Ian McMillan is joined by Professor Christopher Ricks and other guests, to take a new look at the poetry, life and times of A. E. Housman.
Free to ticket- holders. Edited broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's interval.

Sunday 3 August, 5.45pm (before Prom 23)
Susan Hitch discusses nature, wilderness and gardens with two poets for whom the pastoral is an important source of inspiration: Kathleen Jamie and Sarah Maguire.
Free to ticket-holders. Edited broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's interval.

Tuesday 5 August, 5.15pm (before Prom 25)
Matthew Sweet discusses how Victorian entertainment is portrayed in novels, films and television - with writer and critic John Sutherland, and Michael Kilgarriff.
Free to ticket-holders. Edited broadcast on Radio 3 on 7 August.

Tuesday 12 August, 5.00pm (before Prom 35)
Join acclaimed storyteller, Ben Haggarty as he recounts some of the fantastical adventures of Sindbad,Wealthy Merchant Seaman of Basrah, as told to Sindbad, Poor Porter of Baghdad in this family-friendly storytelling session.
Free to ticket-holders.

Tuesday 12 August, 9.15pm (before Prom 36)
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, joins Susan Hitch to talk about and introduce the work of one of his literary heroes: Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
Free to all. Ticket required, available on the day at the RAH Box Office until 9.00pm and then on the door at the RCM. Edited broadcast on Radio 3 on 20 August.

Sunday 17 August, 5.45pm (before Prom 43)
Matthew Sweet goes on an urban safari - exploring the inspiration of wildness and nature in the city - with Iain Sinclair and Robert Macfarlane, author of "The Wild Places".
Free to ticket-holders. Edited broadcast on Radio 3 on 18 August.

Thursday 21 August, 5.45pm (before Prom 47)
Ian McMillan is joined by novelists Conrad Williams and Frank Tallis to discuss how classical music is portrayed in fiction.
Free to ticket-holders. Edited broadcast on Radio 3 on 23 August.

Monday 25 August, 5.15pm (before Prom 53)
A special family event for Bank Holiday. Children's authors Julia Donaldson and Michael Morpurgo discuss the role of music in children's fiction.
Free to all. Ticket required, available on the day at the RAH Box Office until 4.15pm and then on the door at the RCM. Edited broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's interval.

Wednesday 27 August, 9.15pm (before Prom 56)
Ian McMillan explores literature inspired by birds, with poet Katrina Porteous and nature writer Mark Cocker.
Free to all, ticket required, available on the day at the RAH Box Office until 9.00pm and then on the door at the RCM. Edited broadcast on Radio 3 on 28 August.

Saturday 30 August, 5.45pm (before Prom 59)
BBC Diplomatic Correspondent Bridget Kendall on Russian literature and current affairs.
Free to ticket-holders. Edited version will be available to listen online.

Thursday 4 September, 5.15pm (before Prom 66)
Ian McMillan introduces writing about the sea with poet Jean Sprackland and novelist Julie Myerson.
Free to ticket- holders. Edited broadcast on Radio 3 on 6 September.

Friday 5 September, 5.45pm (before Prom 68)
Susan Hitch explores the world of Russian fairy tales with Moscow-born writer Zinovy Zinik and Robert Chandler, who is editing a new anthology.
Free to ticket-holders. Edited broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's interval.

Saturday 6 September, 5.45pm (before Prom 69)
TV dramatist Stephen Poliakoff joins Susan Hitch to talk about his favourite Russian literature and its influence on his work.
Free to ticket-holders. Edited broadcast on Radio 3 on 9 September.

Wednesday 10 September, 4.45pm (before Prom 73)
Ian McMillan gazes at the stars and discusses planetary literature with poet Lavinia Greenlaw and others.
Free to ticket-holders. Edited broadcast on Radio 3 during tonight's interval.