A festival in one of the UK's most beautiful cities. A celebration of nationally respected writers, as well as writers with York-connections. The festival offers workshops and open-mics for local people as well as the chance to see famous writers talk about their work. Over 50 events across the city.
In 2013 the festival returns for its sixth outing and includes author events, storytelling, theatre, cinema and loads more. There is also a guided tour of York’s sites of literary merit.
When? 21 March - 24, 2013
When established ? First event was 2007. Has run each year since.
Where? Various locations around York, including York Theatre Royal, York St John University, Waterstone's, local pubs and cafes.
Who? In 2013 performers include Tony Benn and Roy Bailey with their show ‘The Writing On The Wall’. The bard of Barnsley Ian McMillan will perform alongside his son, Andrew, at City Screen. Local Dickens expert John Bowen provides an insight into the life and work of the great novelist, and young children can enjoy storytelling with York’s Telltale Tent. Also appearing are an array of Yorkshire Poets including: Antony Dunn, Carole Bromley, Abi Curtis, Oz Hardwick and Anneliese Emmans Dean. Helen Cadbury hosts an evening of short stories and Pennine Poets hold forth at the Black Swan.
Festival Website: York Literature Festival
Previous festivals: Lindsey Davies, Kate Lock, Helen Burke, Nigel Walker, Diane Setterfield, Anneliese Emmans Dean, Michael Boulter, Sunday Times bestseller Kate Atkinson, Jon McGregor (If Nobody Speaks Of Remarkable Things etc), Jim Crace (Quarantine etc), Andrew Martin. Book launches by Rebecca Jenkins, Miles Cain and Adrienne Odasso. Plus Oz Hardwick, Pennine Poets and local storyteller Adrian Spendlow. Local writing groups will also be in action, including York Spoken Word, Speaker's Corner, Pen to Paper Women and Words and York Poetry Society. Keen writers can hear from literary agent Judith Murray what agents are looking for, and there's a storytelling event for children and families. You can also take a guided walk around York's many sites of literary interest.
Literary York
York is one of the most distinguished and historic cities in the world and has a rich literary and cultural inheritance. W. H. Auden, Andrew Martin and Kate Atkinson were born here. The Brontë sisters, Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins were regular visitors to the city, as was Daniel Defoe, whose character Robinson Crusoe was from York. The first two volumes of Sterne's Tristram Shandy were printed in Stonegate. Margaret Drabble and A. S. Byatt went to The Mount School, as did Judi Dench, another native. Authors who have made York their home include John Baker, Fiona Shaw and Kate Lock.