Ilkley Literature Festival

Yorkshire’s very own chat show king Sir Michael Parkinson is heading the line up at this year’s Ilkley Literature Festival. Sir Michael is among a host of writers across fiction, journalism, poetry and non-fiction to appear at the 37th event. Ilkley Literature Festival was launched by poet WH Auden in 1973 in one of his last public appearances and each year more than 160 events take place in a variety of venues across the town.

There are projects and residencies involving local schools and community organisations. The first female poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy, Booker prize winner Roddy Doyle and The Guardian’s Polly Toynbee are set to appear on the bill. Time Traveller’s Wife author Audrey Niffenegger will make her debut at the festival and broadcaster Peter Snow will be exploring his new history To War with Wellington: From the Peninsula to Waterloo. Fatima Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto’s niece brings her family memoir, Songs of Blood and Sword to Ilkley and Nelson Mandela will be the subject of renowned anti-apartheid campaigner and Labour MP Peter Hain’s biography.

This year’s festival, which will run from October 1 to 17, will also have a programme of performances with the children’s festival weekend running from October 9 to 10. Festival director Rachel Feldberg said: “We’re delighted to have such a great line up already and this is just the start.

The complete Ilkley Literature Festival programme will be announced in July.

Tickets will be available to Friends of the Festival from August 18 and will go on general release on August 31.

Source http://www.ilkley-directory.co.uk/2010/07/ilkley-literature-festival/