The full programme for the Lichfield Festival’s fifth lichfield literature, a celebration of all things bookish, has been announced. It continues to expand its range, not only with more authors but also with its first author in residence, an expanded range of creative writing talks and a special launch event.
The comedian, actor and author, Jo Brand, will be appearing at a pre-weekend event at Moor Hall Hotel and Spa in Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, to talk about the new second part of her life story, Can’t Stand Up For Sitting Down. This is on Tuesday 5 October.
Other big names secured for lichfield literature include former MPs Roy Hattersley, Tony Benn and Martin Bell, as well as legendary actor Ron Moody. Lord Hattersley is the guest speaker at the lichfield literature literary dinner at the George Hotel on Friday 8 October.
There will be a Big Read event for children, with free copies of author-in-residence Liz Kessler’s book, Philippa Fisher’s Fairy Godsister, being distributed during September and a chance to meet the author on Saturday 9 October.
Creative writing talks will be held between Thursday and Sunday 7-10 October.
Booking opens on Monday 6 September at the Lichfield Festival office, 7 The Close, Lichfield WS13 7LD, by phone on 01543 306270 and online at www.lichfieldfestival.org
lichfield literature is presented with help from The George Hotel and from Festival Partner, Tempest Ford Lichfield. The Lichfield Festival is supported by Arts Council England and Lichfield District Council.
The full list of author talks is:
Tuesday 5 October
7.30pm Can’t Stand Up For Sitting Down – Jo Brand, The Charter Suite, Moor Hall Hotel & Spa
Thursday 7 October
10am Between the Sheets: The Literary Liaisons of Nine 20th Century Women Writers Lesley McDowell, The George Hotel
11.45am Precious – A True Story – Precious Williams, The George Hotel
8 pm Lichfield Literature Quiz Night, Darnford Moors Golf Club
Friday 8 October
11am The Model Wife: Effie, Ruskin and Millais – Suzanne Fagence-Cooper, The George Hotel
3pm Control – John Macken, Lichfield Library
7pm Battle Lines- The Lichfield Poets, Lichfield Library
7.30pm Lichfield Literary Dinner with Roy Hattersley, The George Hotel
Saturday 9 October
10am She-Wolves: The Women who Ruled England Before Elizabeth – Helen Castor, The George Hotel
11.45am Galileo – John Heilbron The George Hotel
2pm A Still Untitled, (Not Quite) Autobiography – Ron Moody, The George Hotel
3.45pm The New Optimists: Scientists view tomorrow’s world & what it means to us – Edited by Dr Keith Richards with a foreword by Jenny Uglow, The George Hotel
5.15pm The Cranford Companion – Sue Birtwistle & Susie Conklin, The George Hotel
7pm Bluestockings: The Remarkable Story of the First Women to Fight for an Education – Jane Robinson, The George Hotel
8.30pm A Very British Revolution – Martin Bell, The George Hotel
Sunday 10 October
12noon Slave: From book to stage and screen – Mende Nazer and Damien Lewis, The George Hotel
2pm Letters To My Grandchildren – Tony Benn, The George Hotel
4pm The Last Englishman: The Double Life of Arthur Ransome – Roland Chambers, The George Hotel
5.45pm Storyteller: The Life of Roald Dahl – Donald Sturrock, The George Hotel
7.30pm Shakespeare On Toast – Ben Crystal, The George Hotel
