Durham’s annual Book Festival will return from 10 – 12 October, welcoming a host of writers and thinkers from across the world, including our Chancellor, Dr Fiona Hill.
Fiona will be launching her new podcast series, Forged in the North, during the Festival. The series explores how being from North East England has shaped the lives of successful people, including music icon Sting, writers Lee Hall and Peter Straughan, and entrepreneur and former TV Dragons’ Den star Sara Davies. In a live event at Durham’s Gala Theatre, Fiona will speak with author Richard O’Neill about how he tells stories of our region and how it has forged him.
Internationally acclaimed authors
This year’s Festival features a special appearance from one of the UK’s most revered living authors and Durham alumna, Dame Pat Barker.
Dame Pat has written 16 novels, including the Booker-Prize winning The Ghost Road. Her daughter, the writer and poet Anna Barker, has spent a decade uncovering her mother’s life story. The two will be in conversation for Dipped in Ink, an event about their forthcoming memoir spanning 40 years exploring family silences, literary legacy, and maternal relationships.
We are also looking forward to welcoming back another Durham alumnus and Honorary Graduate, broadcaster and presenter Jeremy Vine. Inspired by his childhood love of Agatha Christie and long career in journalism, Jeremy has written his own murder mystery novel, Murder on Line One, and will be speaking about his book at the Gala Theatre.
Other internationally best-selling authors appearing include Ann Cleeves, whose books have been adapted into major TV shows, including ITV’s Vera and BBC’s Shetland. Ann will be in conversation with the award-winning broadcaster Steph McGovern, who has recently published her debut crime thriller, Deadline.
Young readers
500 copies of children’s book Help! We Need a Story by James Harris, will be distributed by Durham Libraries for this year’s Little Read, which encourages children to read for pleasure.
Durham Book Festival is a Durham County Council event produced by New Writing North, with support from Durham University and Arts Council England.
Find out more and book tickets:
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