About this event

The eighth Lavenham Literary Festival will take place from Friday 1 to Sunday 3 November at various venues in Lavenham. We have an exciting line-up of events. TOM HENRY is returning with his Writers’ Workshop which is always popular, while our guest speaker at the Literary Dinner at the Swan Hotel is Private Eye satirist and author CRAIG BROWN.

The starry programme includes ALAN JOHNSON, former politician and best-selling author in conversation with Suffolk’s own LESLEY DOLPHIN, and PATRICK BARKHAM who introduces us to the biography of his great friend and naturalist The Wild Life of ROGER DEAKIN. We’re thrilled to welcome the much-loved actor SHEILA HANCOCK who will talk to television presenter JANET ELLIS about her memoir Old Rage. Foodies and Radio 4 fans will enjoy Dr ANNIE GRAYs history of the British High Street, while our favourite historian TRACY BORMAN will take us Behind Closed Doors at the Royal Palaces.

A festival first – a session for football fans! ASHLEY HICKSON-LOVENCE’s award-winning Your Show is about the Premier League’s first black referee. And two more firsts –introducing JYOLI PATEL’s debut novel The Things That We Lost and HILARY TAYLOR’s Sea Defences.

Finally LOUIS de BERNIÈRES, author of the hugely popular Captain Corelli’s Mandolin will talk to broadcaster MARTHA KEARNEY about his latest novel Light over Liskeard.

Programme

Friday 1st November

Creative Writing Workshop with Tom Henry

Three Suffolk Poets: Rebecca Goss, Emily Hasler & Joanna Ingham

Festival Dinner with Craig Brown

Saturday 2nd November

Alan Johnson in conversation with Lesley Dolphin

Jyoti Patel, Hilary Taylor in conversation with Janet Ellis

Patrick Barkham

Sheila Hancock in conversation with Janet Ellis

Dr Annie Gray

Sunday 3rd November