The 2011 Lichfield Literature festival has been an enormous success with ticket sales up over 70% on the previous year, and nine completely sold out events.
From Kate Chisholm’s opening event to Simon Hoggart’s on the final evening, festival-goers were treated to a fascinating variety of speakers and subjects. Local school students had maths and physics lessons like no other from David Acheson and Jim Baggot respectively, while Jane Austen’s many fans were treated to a unique insight from Deirdre LeFaye. Colin Dexter, meanwhile, had the audience at the Literary Dinner roaring with laughter at his myriad anecdotes.
And it didn’t stop there, Sinclair McKay revealed more stories from the still amazingly secret world of the Bletchley Park code-breakers, Stephen Pile gave hope to hundreds with his book of heroic failures, and Val McDermid gave a fascinating insight into the life and working methods of a successful crime-writer. With history, fiction, travel and satire along the way, this year’s Lichfield Literature truly offered something for all tastes.
With a total of 52 events, against 27 in 2010, it’s no wonder that book sales were also up.
Lichfield Literature Festival really has secured its place as a highlight of the city’s Autumn arts calendar, and is an ever-growing sister of the more mature summer festival.
To see photos from Lichfield Literature 2011, click here
