marlborough literature festival 30 september – 2 october 2016 Marlborough The Golding Speaker Welcome to LitFest 2016 Lionel Shriver

…and thank you to all our sponsors, friends libraries. While politicians may be apathetic author and teacher. This year we’ve widened Chaired by literary journalist Alex Clark between dysfunctional parenting and and volunteers who have supported us over about these bastions of education and social and deepened our programme for young mass murder. the past six years. If you are new to LitFest, a cohesion, we back Lionel. readers to include events for all ages. Lionel Shriver continues in a long line of very warm welcome. We’d especially like to eminent Marlborough LitFest speakers Shriver does not believe that a central thank Brewin Dolphin, who has committed to Peter James, the multi-million selling crime Other themes in our programme include sponsored by the William Golding estate. protagonist needs to be likeable and has continuing as our lead sponsor for the next writer is a great supporter of the work conservation, books as therapy, human described her characters as ‘difficult three years. conducted by The Reading Agency which rights, writing as a cathartic process, We Need To Talk About Kevin won the Orange to love’, although the humour, however helps give disadvantaged people better holding power to account and the bridging of Prize for Fiction in 2005. It was Lionel black, is ever present in her work. LitFest has always been about great life chances. Every year we put on a Big diverse cultures. Shriver’s seventh novel and followed years writing. This year we are aware of another Town Read event in conjunction with this of professional Her latest novel, The Mandibles, is set thread running through our programme: organisation to involve the town and local Perhaps the greatest advantage of all is the disappointment in 2029 and depicts a family forced to the power of books for social good and the reading groups. This year we welcome back way literature shapes us as a people. In this and virtual survive the crippling ramifications of an transforming effect of reading. We think it’s Elizabeth Buchan to discuss her book I Can’t 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death obscurity. economic earthquake besides which 2008 our most exciting programme yet and hope Begin to Tell You. there can be no better way to celebrate the Despite the was only a minor tremor. you’ll agree. Here are some events to look glory of the English language than with merits of her forward to: Lionel Shriver, this year’s Golding Michael Morpurgo, author of War Horse Simon Russell Beale. other books The author was born in North Carolina Speaker and author of We Need to Talk about and one of the nation’s favourite children’s this was the and has subsequently lived in Bangkok, Kevin, will talk about her latest book The authors has brought joy to countless kids Great writing comes to your door again! one which Nairobi, Belfast and London. She is Mandibles. She is a great advocate of public through his wonderful storytelling both as an Best wishes from the LitFest committee. caught the recognised as a highly accomplished public mood journalist on both sides of the Atlantic. Tickets £10 with its chilling Venue Town Hall allusions to the Date Friday 30 September 7.30pm

Photo: Sarah Lee Sarah Photo: relationship

Box Office 01249 701628 3 4 Educational LitFest www.marlboroughlitfest.org are similarly dramatic and according to children’s reading. Theeducational benefits frequently alludedto thesocial benefitsof expressed by thelate RoaldDahlwho LitFest strongly endorses thesentiments philistine parents. watching television’. SosaysMatildaofher was more to life thancheatingpeople and Kipling they would soondiscover there ‘If only they would read alittle Dickens or ages from the underfives to teenagers. Morpurgo (see page28)withevents for all and captivating writers includingMichael for young readers featuring experienced This year we have anexciting programme status’. success thantheirfamily’s socio-economic more important for children’s educational ‘Reading enjoyment hasbeenreported as a 2012Departmentfor Education report Storytelling Under 5s due to anticipated demand. readings andwillberunningtwo sessions young children atprevious bookshop Storyteller Teresa Masterson hasdelighted Date Venue RequiredNo Tickets Date Venue RequiredNo Tickets Saturday 1 October 10.30am Friday 30September 11am White HorseBookshop Library, MarlboroughHighStreet

Photo: xxx Children Primary School specialises inteaching creative writing 5 and6students invited from schools.Abi children, AbiElphinstone willtalk to Year providing free events to local school As partofoureducational programme be just asinspiring. and Abi’s talk is set to events inthepast, attending these teachers and children feedback from We’ve hadgreat The Shadow Keeper. Dreamsnatcher and year olds,The two books for 9-12 and isauthorof Sally Nicholls,authoroffive highly local secondary schools.Thistimeit’s a free event for invited students from are bringingbackTheBigSchoolRead, Following last year’s hugesuccess we Read The BigSchool . Own Our title, Island Of An will beherlatest The featured book prizes. Children’s Book and Waterstone’s Orange New Voices has won boththe for teenagers. She acclaimed books based event. highly successful andenlightening video- This interactive session follows last year’s readers. the views andcontributions ofyounger of thefew literature festivals thatvalues on literature. Marlborough LitFest isone John’s sixthformers share theiropinions books? ComeandhearapanelofSt How do e-bookscompare withtraditional What makes for agrippinggraphic novel? Century Style Reading 21st Date Venue RequiredNo Tickets Sunday 2 October 12.30pm White HorseBookshop Box Office 01249 701628 Box Office 01249 701628 5 Children’s Authors Sarah McIntyre & Philip Reeve

Athelstan Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre create set is essential in order to create visuals enthralling and zany illustrated books for that will captivate young imaginations. Tom Holland children, their latest being a visual feast with stunning two-colour illustrations on Children’s Event – Philip and Sarah bring The formation of England happened tells the story of Alfred (Athelstan’s every page. There will be two sessions, for you Jinks & O’Hare, the brilliant repair against the odds - the division of the grandfather) and Wessex, as well as two very different audiences. team who keep Funfair Moon running

country into rival kingdoms, the assaults Athelstan’s own reign. Warren Dave Photo: smoothly. Could you handle a VIOLENT of the Vikings, the precarious position Book Illustration – with Sarah McIntyre FUDGESPLOSION, a GRAVITY INVERSION of the island on the edge of the known Tom is the author of several novels and This session will have wide appeal for or a MARAUDING CANDYFLOSS world. But King Alfred ensured the revered historical works together with anyone with an interest in art as well CREATURE? From the dynamic team who survival of Wessex, his son Eadweard short fiction, as those studying art, media or graphic brought you Oliver and the Seawigs, Cakes in expanded it, and his grandson Athelstan drama and design for GCSE, A Level or IB. In this Space and Pugs of the Frozen North this event finally united Mercia and Wessex, documentaries fascinating talk Sarah divulges some is set to be hilarious and slightly mad. The conquered Northumbria and became and he is a of the practical and creative skills she event is suitable for children aged 7-12. Rex totius Britanniae. presenter of uses as a children’s book illustrator and Radio 4’s Making artist including craft tools, materials and The winners of our children’s short story Tom Holland recounts this History. He served technology. She also demonstrates how and illustration competitions will also be extraordinarily exciting story with relish as chair of the understanding your target audience’s mind announced at this event. and drama, leading us to understand Society of Authors Tickets £8 the often confusing history of the and is a member Tickets £5 Tickets £5 Venue Town Hall Anglo-Saxon Kings better than ever of the Authors XI Venue White Horse Bookshop Venue Town Hall Date Saturday 1 October 10.30am before. Athelstan goes back to the very cricket team. Date Saturday 1 October 11.30am Date Saturday 1 October 1.30pm

beginning of the British monarchy and Charlie Hopkinson Photo:

6 www.marlboroughlitfest.org Box Office 01249 701628 7 City of Thorns City of Thorns is the second book by Ben Rawlence. The title refers to Dadaab in northern Kenya, the world’s largest Ben refugee camp and ‘city’ whose houses are constructed from mud, thorns and bits of Rawlence plastic. The thorn bush is the only plant that grows in this desert.

Dadaab takes on different associations dependent on your standpoint - for the inhabitants it’s a last resort and, just about, a home. For the government it’s nothing but a terrorist breeding ground. Rawlence interweaves the stories of nine Publishing Unbound Books individuals including a barrow trader, a youth leader and a child soldier. The democratisation of publishing - is it a book that fails to fit the cookie-cutter gets to publication, and is thus particularly good thing, or will it dumb down writing? rejected. Could the long term result of this qualified to judge between them. The author has worked as a speech approach be less choice, less eccentricity writer for the Liberal Democrats and The internet now allows authors to pitch and a ‘blanding’ of literature. Unbound is Alice will be accompanied by Unbound a researcher for Human Rights Watch, their stories whilst readers decide which one potential remedy. publisher, John Mitchinson who will explain as well as writing for the Guardian, The get published. how the crowdfunding phenomenon works. London Review of Books and Prospect. This event showcases author Alice A major complaint of traditional Jolly, who with two novels published by Tickets £8 Tickets £8 Venue Town Hall His first book wasRadio Congo (2012). Over publishers, especially amongst authors, Simon and Schuster and one published Venue St. Mary’s Church Hall Date Saturday 1 October 12 noon a four year period he became a first-hand is that they pigeonhole books according by Unbound Books, has experienced Date Saturday 1 October 12 noon

witness to the Dadaab camp. Jonny Donovan Photo: to rigid genre guidelines and that any both the conventional and online routes

8 www.marlboroughlitfest.org Box Office 01249 701628 9 Perspectives on the book

This year we present a special treat for fine early printing by Aldus, bibliophiles by celebrating the wonderful Collectable Book Libanus Press Rare Books a t Froben and Plantin, rich world of books with an eclectic series of new Roadshow Libanus Press Marlborough holdings of literary, theological events, together with an old favourite. specialises in and historical works from Do you have a potentially rare leather- the creation College the sixteenth to eighteenth bound volume, a famous novel in its first of beautiful centuries, and many important edition, or perhaps some favourite old editions. The It was a local secret, until now: mathematical and scientific children’s books? tour of this gem Marlborough College holds an important works from the Renaissance to the of a publishing and significant collection of rare books Victorian era. Among the latter stand Whatever the book, house is now a and manuscripts ranging in date from the Newton’s Principia Mathematica, early British art dealer regular event fifteenth century to modern times. alchemy books, hand-painted Victorian and long-established at Marlborough zoological guides, and first editions of rare book dealer LitFest. Rare Books will be more than just a talk Darwin’s works. Christopher Gange - there will be an opportunity to examine would love to appraise A rare treat for and handle the books. This is a unique Other particular strengths of the collection a wealth of Arts & Crafts books inspired by it for you, valuable or visitors and opportunity to witness them under the include antiquarian volumes on Wiltshire, William Morris, and fine press books of the otherwise. locals alike, expert and scholarly guidance of Dr Simon twentieth century, including many items there is a high demand every year. McKeown. from the Marlborough College Press. Just bring your book(s) along to Katharine House Gallery in The Tickets are limited to 12 for each of the two Among its many Places are limited to fifteen, so book early Parade and find out more. tours, so book quickly to secure your place. treasures are the to avoid disappointment. Marlborough College Book of Hours, a Tickets £10 No Tickets Required Tickets £10 Venue Venue Katharine House Gallery, The Parade Venue Rose Tree House, 8 Silverless Street medieval illuminated The Smoking Room C1, Date Saturday 1 October 10am – 12.30pm Date Saturday 1 October 11am & 2.30pm manuscript, Marlborough College exemplars of Date Sunday 2 October 2.30pm

10 www.marlboroughlitfest.org Box Office 01249 701628 11 Winner of the Betty Trask Award Bibliotherapy – The Novel Cure Alex Christofi Ella Berthoud

The Betty Trask award is for first novels by Cathedral. He moves to London and tries Reading, they say, is good a tendency to give up halfway authors under the age of 35. The awards to navigate life in a city he doesn’t fully for the soul and GPs are now through. When read at the right are given to traditional or romantic novels understand. offering novels, such as Mark moment in your life, a novel rather than those of an experimental style. Haddon’s The Curious Incident can – quite literally – change it. It has a track record of spotting stars of the The novel explores themes of What Of The Dog In The Night Time, as This is also a fresh approach to future including Zadie Smith, Keiran Desai, is a good life? Does being good mean treatment for teenage mental finding new books to read, and Evie Wyld, Adam Foulds, Sarah Waters and intervening in the lives of others even health conditions. Recent an enchanting way to revisit the Chibundu Onuzo. Each year the awards when you might make things worse? The studies have even shown how books on your shelves. total £20,000 with one author receiving a Guardian concludes ‘Glass, as gentle and reading a book can lower blood larger amount called the Prize. bumbling as its pressure. During this event Ella can narrator, shows us provide personalised book The winner of the 2016 Prize is debut that the only way to Ella Berthoud’s The Novel recommendations should you novelist Alex Christofi from Dorset. His live a good life is to Cure is a medical handbook, be willing to discuss your own novel Glass, published by Serpent’s Tail, dive in, no matter with a difference. Whether you have a ailment with her. She will also talk about is described as ‘pitch perfect’ and ‘a how messy and stubbed toe or a severe case of the blues, her new book The Story Cure which looks at passionate, rollicking and witty London unpredictable things within its pages you’ll find a cure in the children’s books. novel’ by Michèle Roberts, one of the get‘. form of a novel to help ease your pain. Tickets £8 judges. The novel is about an innocent and You’ll also find advice on how to tackle Tickets £8 Venue St. Mary’s Church Hall eccentric oddball who is obsessed by glass common reading ailments – such as what Venue White Horse Bookshop Date Saturday 1 October 1.30pm and becomes a celebrity window cleaner to do when you feel overwhelmed by the Date Saturday 1 October 1.30pm

after an incident on the spire of Salisbury Will Ablett Photo: number of books in the world, or you have

12 www.marlboroughlitfest.org Box Office 01249 701628 13 Ladybird Books for Adults Joel Morris Landskipping & Jason Anna Pavord Hazeley Anna Pavord is the author of many highly the topography, cherished gardening books and has plant life and Ladybird books were a memorable These hilarious editions will generate written extensively for titles including landscape define element in many a childhood. They were simultaneous laughter and nostalgia The Observer, Country Living, Elle and us as both as famous for their wholesome, sensible and with their repetitive text and 1950s-style latterly as gardening correspondent individuals and accessible introductions to topics such artwork. Titles include The Ladybird Book of The Independent. She is associate as a people. Rather than being force- as space travel, nuclear power and the of The Husband (How It Works) and The editor of Gardens Illustrated, the garden fed what the marketing people want gunpowder plot and their illustrations Ladybird Book of The Mid-Life Crisis. Writers designer’s title of choice. us to think, we should approach the left an indelible impression on Jason Hazeley and Joel Morris countryside on our own terms and in our many young minds. will discuss the idea behind their Anna sees gardening as a soul-healing own time, finding out inception and what they say about activity. “In your garden you can take what we ourselves The relaunched Ladybird series us today. a stand against the prevailing trashy want to know for adults is perhaps more mood of the time…if the mood is now before reaching any of an ironic and postmodern As well as books and journalism, instant, disposable, then in our gardens conclusions. expression of the zeitgeist to Jason and Joel have written we should be planting slow, steady, help cynical adults make sense extensively for radio, TV and film sustaining things.” Tickets £8 Tickets £8 Venue St Mary’s Church Hall of modern life, from hipsters to including That Mitchell and Webb Venue Town Hall Date Saturday 1 October 3pm hangovers. Look, Miranda, and Paddington, In a similar vein, Anna’s latest book, Date Saturday 1 October 3pm

winning multiple awards. Charlie Hopkinson Photo: Landskipping, is about place and how

14 www.marlboroughlitfest.org Box Office 01249 701628 15 The Bones of Grace Tahmima Anam

Tahmima Anam is a British Bangladeshi Tahmima’s latest novel, The Bones of writer, novelist and columnist. She comes Grace, deals with the struggles of a from an illustrious literary family in young Bangladeshi woman in the US Bangladesh. Her grandfather Abul Mansur to reconcile different cultures. Does Ahmed was a satirist and politician whose she belong with the world of her birth Anatomy of a Soldier works in Bengali remain popular to parents or as an educated independent this day. woman with a modern western lifestyle? Harry Parker

Her first novel, A Golden Age, was published Fate snatches away a romance with Harry Parker’s first novel,Anatomy Of whereby soldiers effectively become mere by John Murray in 2007 and was the Best a conventional American young man, A Soldier, is based on his experiences in statistics and where there’s little definition First Book winner of the 2008 Commonwealth whisking her Afghanistan during which he stepped on between people and objects. Writers’ Prize. The inspiration came from back into a an IED (improvised explosive device) and her parents who were freedom fighters traditional yet eventually lost both legs. The novel uses Time also lurches backwards and during the Bangladesh Liberation War. constraining an unusual stylistic device - it is narrated forwards throughout the book because, The follow-up novel The Good Muslim was Bangladeshi through the voices of 45 objects including according to the author, that’s what it’s nominated for the 2011 Man Asian Literary marriage to a bicycle, a drone and the very saw that like when you’ve been blown up. Prize and in 2013 she was included in the a childhood amputates his 2nd leg. Granta list of 20 best young writers. friend. Another This highly accomplished debut has twist offers the Why does Harry deploy this technique? been endorsed by the potential for Perhaps it is an extension of the old stiff likes of Edna O’Brien, Tickets £8 Tickets £8 Venue White Horse Bookshop escape. upper lip i.e. that which prevents one Alan Bennett and Hilary Venue Town Hall Date Saturday 1 October 3pm getting too close or emotional. Or maybe Mantel. It is published Date Saturday 1 October 4.30pm

Photo: Abeer Y Hoque Photo: Gemma Day Photo: it reflects the dehumanising nature of war by Faber.

16 www.marlboroughlitfest.org Box Office 01249 701628 17 Hiscox Young Authors in Conversation Barney Norris & Claire Fuller

by connection and coincidence into a web and listening to her mother’s grand piano. of love, grief, disenchantment and hope After a family crisis which Peggy doesn’t that perfectly represents the joys and fully understand until later, her survivalist Man on Fire tragedies of small town life. father James, takes her from London to a cabin in a remote European forest. There Stephen Kelman Barney Norris grew up in Salisbury. He he tells Peggy the rest of the world has founded the theatre company Up In Arms disappeared and she isn’t seen again for Stephen Kelman was born in Luton in set in a housing estate much like the and won the Critics’ Circle and Offwestend another nine years. 1976. Inspired by the murder of Damilola one Stephen grew up on. He wanted to Awards for Most Promising Taylor, Pigeon English, his first novel, was portray the characters in a more positive Playwright for his debut full-length shortlisted for the 2011 Man Booker light than the nonsense that’s peddled by play Visitors. He is the Martin Esslin Prize, the Desmond Elliott Prize and the much of our less enlightened media, yet Playwright in Residence at Keble Guardian First Book Award. He was also which unfortunately seeps into the national College, Oxford. Five Rivers Met on a shortlisted for the New Writer of the Year consciousness.

Photo: Jay Brooks Photo: Wooded Plain is his first novel. Award at the 2011 One quiet evening in Salisbury, ‘Remember the name Barney Galaxy National Stephen’s new book, Man On Fire, is about the peace is shattered by a Norris. He is a new writer in Book Awards. a journalist (based on a real person) in serious car crash. At that his mid-twenties, but already Bombay whose hobby is breaking world moment, five lives collide – all outstanding.’ The Times It’s often said records in extreme activities, believing facing their own personal disasters. As that too much that beating the pain barrier is setting a one of those lives hangs in the balance, the Writer and artist Claire Fuller’s first writing comes positive example for his fellow man. The stories of all five unwind, drawn together novel, Our Endless Numbered Days, won from privilege counterpoint is a sixty year old Englishman the 2015 Desmond Elliott Prize for and is about suffering with cancer and who feels he

debut fiction. At age eight in 1976, Adrian Harvey Photo: privilege. Not hasn’t done anything with his life. Tickets £8 Tickets £8 Venue St Mary’s Church Hall Peggy Hillcoat spends her summer so with Stephen When these two meet, their unlikely Venue White Horse Bookshop Date Saturday 1 October 4.30pm camping with her father, playing her Kelman whose blossoming friendship provides the story’s Date Saturday 1 October 6pm Photo: Nick Tucker Photo: beloved record of The Railway Children debut novel was unique appeal. Jonathan Ring Photo:

18 www.marlboroughlitfest.org Box Office 01249 701628 19 Broken Vows Paris Spring Tom Bower James Naughtie

Chaired by James Naughtie unprecedented access to to more than An independent survey voted James for Radio 3 as well as Radio 4’s Bookclub. 180 Whitehall officials, military officers Naughtie’s as the best voice to wake up It’s fair to say that Tom Bower’s subjects and politicians, he has uncovered the to and it will be familiar to many. As one He is the author of three books including don’t usually like what he has to say about full story of Blair’s decade in power. of the main presenters on Radio 4’s Today his latest, Paris Spring, which brilliantly them and one commentator described him The result is the political biography Programme he interviewed our most recounts the as ‘the grim literary reaper’. of the year, Broken Vows, a dramatic famous and infamous public figures for revolutionary spirit re-evaluation of Tony Blair which over twenty years. of the 1968 student Tom is an investigative journalist and disentangles uprisings within the biographer who takes on the rich, powerful the mystery of Before the world of radio he was a context of a cold war and dangerous, sometimes all three in an extraordinary newspaper journalist, beginning his spy thriller. one. He is no stranger to the libel courts politican, and career at The Aberdeen Press and Journal and holds the distinction of having had illuminates the before moving on to The Scotsman, the actions filed against him by Robert ultimate tragedy Washington Post and finally the Guardian. Maxwell, Richard Branson and Conrad of power. Black, the last of whose writ for £18 In 1988 James succeeded Sir Robin Day million is still outstanding. as presenter of The World At One and he has anchored every election results Tickets £8 Tickets £10 Venue Town Hall Bower was one those who in 1977 looked programme for BBC radio since 1997. Venue Town Hall Date Saturday 1 October 6pm on in excited anticipation as Blair took up James has also presented The Proms on Date Saturday 1 October 7. 30pm

residence in Downing Street. Now, with Hugh Dickens Photo: television since 1992, opera programmes

20 www.marlboroughlitfest.org Box Office 01249 701628 21 Life of a Chalkstream Simon Cooper

Few people appreciate that the chalkstream is almost unique to England. Growing up in Hampshire Simon Cooper fell in love with fly fishing and what is the angler’s natural habitat from an early age. Squirrel Pie (and Other Stories) His delightful book, Life Of A Chalkstream, records a year of this essentially English Elisabeth Luard waterscape. From the remarkable spectacle of salmon, sea trout and brown A contender for the greatest living of family life and even her non-cookery trout spawning in winter, to the emergence food writer, Elisabeth Luard has led a volumes are peppered with culinary of water voles in spring and the explosion fascinating life. Born in London during the anecdotes and recipes. of mayflies in the early days of summer, Blitz this daughter of a diplomat was a the author evocatively describes the reluctant debutante, yet fell for the ’King Elisabeth’s gastronomic titles include chalkstream’s natural wonders. of Satire’ Nicholas European Peasant Cookery, The Food of Luard, pioneer Spain and Portugal, European Festival Food, As an active conservationist Simon’s fight of Private Eye Sacred Food and A Cook’s Year in A Welsh to save the chalkstreams is certain to stir magazine. She was Farmhouse. She has written two novels the passions of keen fishermen, together married at twenty and three volumes of family memoirs, with anybody who values the beauty of one. winning prestigious awards in each genre. rural England. Her journalistic contributions include Food was a frequent The Oldie, The Daily Mail, The Jewish Tickets £8 source of comfort Chronicle, Country Living and The TLS. Tickets £8 Venue White Horse Bookshop and healing during a Venue Town Hall Date Sunday 2 October 11am turbulent marriage Elisabeth’s new book Squirrel Pie (and Other Date Sunday 2 October 12 noon

Photo: Clare Richardson Clare Photo: and difficult periods Stories) is published by Bloomsbury.

22 www.marlboroughlitfest.org Box Office 01249 701628 23 Love You Dead Peter James

Chaired by Tony Mulliken as ‘having the air of a town Come all you Poets perpetually helping the police Peter James is without doubt one of the with their enquiries’ and it is Poetry in the Pub world’s most successful crime writers the dark side of this otherwise and his 28 novels (for which he has won sunny resort that Peter taps Would you like to read your poem to an Marlborough Sonnet competition, we’d multiple awards) have sold many millions into so effectively. Surely Roy audience of other poets? love to hear it read here. Poems submitted across the globe. Grace is now to Brighton what in advance will be read first. Don’t miss His work has been Morse and Rebus are to Oxford Following last year’s successful event we this chance to listen to others and be translated into 36 and Edinburgh respectively. will again be running an Open Mic session heard yourself. languages and on Sunday. The event will be he has scored Peter has been involved in 26 hosted by Alex Hickman. eight consecutive films as writer or producer He blogs at www.stuff- Sunday Times and whilst at film school he happens.org and lives in the bestsellers. was Orson Welles’s house Pewsey Vale. cleaner for a brief spell. He is Peter’s most an enthusiastic supporter of If you would like to participate, famous creation The Reading Agency which helps foster you can submit a poem in is the police enthusiastic readers for a more equal advance to Alex at general@ detective Roy chance in life. marlboroughlitfest.org No Tickets Required or Grace. The other star in so many of his Tickets £10 Venue Upstairs at The Bear Hotel, High Street you can simply turn up on the novels is Brighton, following in the literary Peter was born in Brighton, educated at Venue Town Hall Date Sunday 2 October 1pm day with your poem. If you footsteps of Graham Greene and others. Charterhouse and still has a house in Date Sunday 2 October 1.30pm

have entered a poem for The Seguin Georges Photo: Keith Waterhouse once described Brighton Sussex. His latest book is Love You Dead.

24 www.marlboroughlitfest.org Box Office 01249 701628 25 Poetry workshop The Muse Adults Jessie Burton

Take this wonderful opportunity to improve, Jessie Burton’s meteoric success as a was inspired by a large and incredibly or indeed commence, your poetry writing novelist came as a complete surprise intricate doll’s house in Amsterdam’s with Sarah Howe. Sarah has won the TS to her when a bidding war ensued at Rijksmuseum. The tale comments on Eliot Prize and the Sunday Times / Peters The London Book Fair for publication of the control, concealment and hypocrisy Fraser & Dunlop Young Writer of The Year her first novel endemic within society life of 17th award. The event is for adults and all levels The Miniaturist. century Holland. of ability and experience are welcome. By 2015 it had topped the Multiple awards later, including She will lead a two-hour workshop on the bestseller charts Waterstone’s Book of The Year and The theme of ‘Mind the Gap’ about the power on both sides of National Book Awards winner, Jessie’s of silences and fragments in poems, using the Atlantic and follow up is The Muse. Set in both the a range of stimulating exercises and was published in Spanish Civil War of the 1930s and techniques. 36 languages. London in the Sixties this is a multi- layered story once again anchored Tickets £20 This workshop is limited to 15 people so Written whilst around a single artefact and reflects the Tickets £8 Venue Katharine House Gallery, The Parade please hurry to secure your place. still working way history’s twists and turns shape our Venue Town Hall Date Sunday 2 October 2pm Sarah will also be the speaker at the as a City PA, lives. Date Sunday 2 October 3pm Photo: Hayley Madden Hayley Photo: festival’s poetry finale see page 32. Henry Borden Photo: The Miniaturist

26 www.marlboroughlitfest.org Box Office 01249 701628 27 An Eagle in the Snow The Big Town Read Michael Morpurgo Elizabeth Buchan

The nation’s favourite storyteller and element, until the story hatches. Less The Big Town Read is a firm favourite at The main protagonist is British-born Kay award-winning children’s writer Michael so the getting-it-all-down part. He gives Marlborough LitFest, where the audience who is lured into the world of resistance Morpurgo was born in 1943 and is author thanks to the late Ted Hughes, who was his discusses a specified book with the and The SOE (Special Operations of 130 books. His latest, at the time of good friend and neighbour, for helping and author. Executive) while her Danish husband going to print, is An Eagle In The Snow. His encouraging him to write. feels the need to cooperate with the most famous story, War Horse, became This year our choice is I Can’t Begin To Nazis to protect his estate and lifestyle. the biggest-selling production ever at the Michael’s stories have consistent themes, Tell You by Elizabeth Buchan, reviewed Kay’s decision is momentous, putting her New London Theatre and a Hollywood film often featuring war, animals, journeys or as ‘nerve-jinglingly engrossing’ by the marriage, family and her own life into directed by Steven Spielberg. quests and sometimes family hardship or Sunday Times. It is also a World Book jeopardy. A battle between war and love upset. Some of these ideas come from his Night title. and a test of which is the stronger. It was only when own chequered experiences of life. Michael started As with many of her Elizabeth Buchan began her career at working as a teacher He and his wife Clare, both awarded the books a family is at Penguin Books and became a fiction that he discovered MBE for services to youth, have run a the centre of this editor at Random House before leaving that he loved reading charity for 40 years with three farms which tale. The setting to write full time. Her novels include the stories to children. are open to inner city school children. Over is Nazi-occupied prizewinning Consider the Lily and Revenge of They seemed to love 90,000 children have visited to date. Denmark, and the the Middle-Aged Woman. Tickets £5 it too. When it comes family’s divided Tickets £8 Venue Theatre On The Hill, St. John’s School to writing however, loyalties mirror the Venue Town Hall Date Sunday 2 October 4pm Michael enjoys dilemmas facing the Date Sunday 2 October 4.15pm

the daydreaming Ian Philpott Photo: whole nation.

28 www.marlboroughlitfest.org Box Office 01249 701628 29 Stalin’s Englishman Celebrating Shakespeare Andrew Lownie Simon Russell Beale

Stalin’s Englishman is the first including Winston Churchill. By now you will doubtless be aware The Guildhall School of Music and Drama. full length biography of Guy Meanwhile he had access that this is the 400th anniversary of At The RSC he first worked with Sam Burgess, member of the to thousands of classified Shakespeare’s death, Mendes, a partnership that has continued ‘Cambridge Five’ spy ring. documents which he passed and what better way to generate some of the most acclaimed It has been painstakingly on to Moscow. to celebrate than with work of his career. researched through perhaps the greatest interviews with more than Andrew Lownie was educated Shakespearian actor In addition to Shakespeare, Simon has one hundred people who at Magdalene College, alive today, possibly delivered stunning performances in knew him personally. Cambridge, Edinburgh and even the most highly productions of Pinter, David Hare, Chekov the London College of Law. revered stage actor and Tom Stoppard plays among many Burgess was a highly He has been a bookseller, full stop. others. His film, radio and television colourful, bohemian and publisher and is now a repertoire includes Spooks, The Hollow multi-faceted figure, not the successful literary agent. Simon Russell Beale has played many of Crown, John Le Carre’s George Smiley and minor member of the ring His other books include a the great Shakespearian roles including A Dance To The Music of Time. alluded to by writers such biography of John Buchan and Hamlet, Lear, Macbeth, Benedick, Iago, as Alan Bennett. His establishment a companion to Edinburgh. He has written Malvolio, Thersites, Richard III, Ariel and of In 2014 Simon was appointed as the pedigree (Oxbridge, BBC, Foreign extensively for publications including The course Sir John Falstaff. Cameron Mackintosh Tickets £8 Tickets £10 Venue White Horse Bookshop Office, MI5 and MI6) together with a Times, The Spectator and the Guardian. Professor of Contemporary Venue Town Hall Date Sunday 2 October 4.30pm considerable charm, enabled Burgess After gaining a First in English at Gonville Theatre at St Catherine’s Date Sunday 2 October 5.45pm to dupe almost everyone around him, & Caius College, Cambridge he went on to College, Oxford.

30 www.marlboroughlitfest.org Box Office 01249 701628 31 Festival Finale Sponsors & Friends of LitFest The committee of the Marlborough LitFest If you are interested in joining the Graphics: Aly Storey 07787 500590 Sarah Howe would like to thank Broo Doherty and team, please contact us at general@ Cover illustration: Robin Heighway-Bury Photography: Ben Phillips www.bphillips.co.uk Stephen May for their invaluable help and marlboroughlitfest.org Print: Thoroughbred Design & Print 01460 240773 Sarah Howe is a British poet, academic able to interpret the spaces between advice for putting together the programme. Website: www.ghostlimited.com and editor. Born in Hong Kong in 1983 to countries, cultures and races. The White Horse Bookshop sells LitFest PR: Fran Del Mar 01672 811482 and Midas PR an English father and Chinese mother, We would also like to thank the following tickets and helps promote our authors. Marlborough Lit Fest Registered Charity No.1149252 Sarah and her family boarded a plane Sarah’s first book,Loop of Jade (Chatto & for their generous support: The Society of Please support your local bookshop. bound for England when she was just Windus, 2015), won the T.S. Eliot Prize Authors, Katharine House Gallery, White seven years old. Two decades later it was and The Sunday Times / Peters Fraser & Horse Bookshop, Libanus Press, The Hong Kong, as well as mainland China, Dunlop Young Writer of the Year Award, Reading Agency, Marlborough Library, St that felt like a strange and was shortlisted for the Forward Prize John’s International Academy, Marlborough and imaginary land. for Best First Collection. News Online, Pound Arts, Waitrose, Reflex Productions, Gazette and Herald. At a time when so Her poems have appeared in journals many people across including Poetry Review, Poetry London, Golden Friends: Peter and Louise Page, the globe are being The Guardian, The Financial Times, Susie Fisher, Vivien Clark, Philip and Tanya uprooted and exiled Ploughshares and Poetry, as well as Cayford, Marianne and Bob Benton, Kay from their homes, it anthologies such as Ten: The New Wave and David Tyler, Chris Gange and Lillian is the poet, always and four editions of The Best British Leadbetter. in a foreign country Poetry. She has performed her work at anyway, who is best festivals internationally and on BBC Radio. We would love your support. Please consider becoming a Golden Friend, an Tickets £10 annual donation of £500. Venue The Adderley Room C1, Marlborough College We cannot run the festival without the Date Sunday 2 October 7.30pm Photo: Hayley Madden Hayley Photo: generous support of our volunteers.

32 www.marlboroughlitfest.org 33 Libanus Press is The White Horse Bookshop Event Listings, Booking & Venues located at Rose Tree is conveniently located within a House on Silverless minute’s walk from the Town Hall on Street, which is on the the north side of the High Street. FRIDAY 12 noon 4.30pm 1.30pm Adderley & north side of The Green. 11am UNBOUND BOOKS CLAIRE FULLER & PETER JAMES UNDER 5 STORYTELLING St. Mary’s Church Hall BARNEY NORRIS Town Hall Smoking Room From the Town Hall walk Marlborough Library 1.30pm St. Mary’s Church Hall 2pm C1, Marlborough up Kingsbury Street and 7.30pm PHILIP REEVE/SARAH 6pm POETRY WORKSHOP College by car or foot take the first right turn The Town Hall LIONEL SHRIVER MCINTYRE STEPHEN KELMAN Katharine House Gallery from the High Street, into Silverless Street. A late Victorian building which Town Hall Town Hall White Horse Bookshop 2.30pm head west on the A4. dominates the east end of the 1.30pm 6pm RARE BOOKS Pass under a brick High Street. The Assembly SATURDAY BETTY TRASK AWARD TOM BOWER Marlborough College footbridge and turn left P Room is the main festival 10am St. Mary’s Church Hall Town Hall 3pm into Court. You may park venue. The Court Room will be COLLECTABLE BOOK 1.30pm 7.30pm JESSIE BURTON in Court. Follow signs to White Horse a bookshop and café for the ROADSHOW ELLA BERTHOUD JAMES NAUGHTIE Town Hall Bookshop Katharine House Gallery White Horse Bookshop Town Hall 4pm Adderley for both venues. weekend. Parking is available in 10.30am 2.30pm MICHAEL MORPURGO You will be met at the the High Street or in Waitrose porch. car park, between the High UNDER 5 STORYTELLING LIBANUS PRESS SUNDAY Theatre On The Hill Marlborough White Horse Bookshop Silverless Street 11am 4.15pm College Street and George Lane. The 10.30am 3pm SIMON COOPER BIG TOWN READ Bear TOM HOLLAND LADYBIRD BOOKS White Horse Bookshop Town Hall Hotel Town Hall St. Mary’s Church Hall 12 noon 4.30pm P 11am 3pm ELISABETH LUARD ANDREW LOWNIE LIBANUS PRESS ANNA PAVORD Town Hall White Horse Bookshop Katharine Silverless Street Town Hall 12.30pm 5.45pm House 11.30am 3pm READING 21ST SIMON RUSSELL BEALE Gallery SARAH MCINTYRE TAHMIMA ANAM CENTURY STYLE Town Hall White Horse Bookshop White Horse Bookshop White Horse Bookshop 7.30pm 12 noon 4.30pm 1pm SARAH HOWE BEN RAWLENCE HARRY PARKER POETRY IN THE PUB Marlborough College Theatre on the Hill Town Hall Town Hall Upstairs at The Bear St. John’s School from the High Street The Bear Hotel High Katharine House Church Hall is next door to HOW TO BOOK In Person: White Horse Bookshop 01672 512071 by car, follow signs to Street, from the front door Gallery, The Parade, St Mary’s Church. The church Online: www.marlboroughlitfest.org Please note: All events will run for approximately I hour Pewsey and Oare on of the Town Hall looking from the Town Hall, cross is behind the Town Hall. Access Telephone: 01249 701628 (through Pound Arts except the workshops, Poetry in the Pub and the visit to the A345. At the top of down the High Street, The the pedestrian crossing is from the bottom of Kingsbury £1 charge for cards plus 50p postage) Libanus Press. Granham Hill, St John’s Bear Hotel is immediately opposite The Bear and walk Street via Patten Alley. From is signed on your left. to your left. down The Parade. Katharine the church follow signs to the Booking Terms & Conditions We do not exchange or refund tickets; this includes moving to an alternative performance. Tickets can be collected from entrance of the hall up steps to the venue 30 minutes before the start of each performance. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult for all family events. Details Parking is available. It’s a St. John’s House is at the bottom of the 34 in this brochure were correct at the time of going to print. The Festival reserves the right to make changes in the event of unforeseen circumstances. short walk to the Theatre. Theatre on the Hill road facing you. the left of the church.

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