Durham Book Festival

Press Release

Friday 20 August

Durham Book Festival 2010 programme revealed

Today (Friday 20 August) sees the unveiling of the programme for the 20th Durham Book Festival: with nearly 50 events over 10 days, and events for all ages, there’s something for everyone at this annual destination for book lovers.

Blending debates and discussions with interactive events audiences can get involved in, this year’s Durham Book Festival takes place from 18 - 28 October, including three days of free book-based, hands-on fun for children during the October half-term.

In association with Durham University’s Institute of Advanced Study, best-selling author (and Durham devotee) Bill Bryson will be in conversation with four contributors to Seeing Further, a lavishly illustrated book, created to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the Royal Society, and edited by Bill. Joining him in discussion will be biographer Richard Holmes OBE; science writer and broadcaster Georgina Ferry; award-winning science writer Philip Ball; and the President of the Royal Society, Lord Martin Rees. (Tuesday 19 October, 6pm)

The festival will welcome prominent thinkers in politics, history, society and the environment to talk about issues affecting us all:

• Will Hutton presents his book Them and Us, looking at the issue of equality and fairness in society. Hutton is one of the foremost liberal thinkers in the UK, and is currently leading an inquiry into cutting top public sector pay for the coalition government. (Monday 18 October, 7.45pm)
• Historian and TV presenter Peter Snow hosts a talk about Wellington, recounting the seven-year campaign that saved Europe from Napoleon. Peter Snow is one of our best-loved TV presenters – both for his Election night Swingometer and for his military history programmes such as Battlefield Britain. (Monday 18 October, 7.45pm)
• Chris Mullin talks about the second part of his diaries, Decline and Fall: 2005-2010, detailing his ministerial life as part of the Labour government. It follows on from the riveting A View From the Foothills, which provided an insider’s account of life as a junior minister. (Saturday 23 October, 12.30pm)
• A special Happy Talk event brings together three acclaimed speakers on the issue of happiness and why we, as a society, strive towards it and expect to achieve it: renowned performance artist Bobby Baker, poet Gwyneth Lewis, and philosopher Havi Carel. (Saturday 23 October, 3.30pm)

As Festival Laureate for 2010, poet Simon Armitage will be in Durham for the duration of the festival and will feature in a number of events. In a festival exclusive, Simon has reunited the New British Poetry Stars of 1990 in an event that brings together Jackie Kay, Lavinia Greenlaw and Glyn Maxwell and Simon himself for the first time in 25 years. The role of Festival Laureate is supported by Durham University. (Thursday 21 October, 7.30pm)

Architect and TV presenter George Clarke, host of Channel 4’s The Restoration Man, launches his book The Home Bible, with an illustrated talk about how to improve your home through simple changes to its layout. George is originally from Sunderland, and Durham Book Festival is delighted to welcome him back to the Wear Valley. (Wednesday 20 October, 7.30pm)

Following on from successful events of this nature last year, the Durham Book Festival once again offers several book events “with a twist”:

• Pete Brown talks about beer and the British Empire, presenting his new book Hops and Glory. He will also be leading the audience on some free beer-tasting to illustrate his point. (Wednesday 20 October, 7pm)
• The Saturday Girls brings together two writers who define Saturday mornings: Kate Fox, Northern poet and comedienne who you’ll have heard on Radio 4’s Saturday Live, and Lucy Mangan, whose hilarious column features in the Saturday Guardian magazine. The Saturday Girls will be talking about books and weddings (both are newlyweds and have written on the subject). The event will include tea and cupcakes. (Saturday 23 October, 11am)
• Radio 3’s The Verb: Live from Durham with Ian McMillan presenting Jackie Kay and Peter Blegvad. (Friday 22 October, 9pm – FREE EVENT)

For the first time, Durham Book Festival is also offering a host of events for children during the October half-term – and they’re all completely free. Book-based but emphasising fun learning, the events include the Slithery Slimy Show with all sorts of creepy-crawlies to handle and learn from; Nick Arnold doing a Horrible Science show; and Dr Who writer Paul Magrs. Events take place from 26 to 28 October on Palace Green in Durham.

A full programme of events and booking details are available at www.durhambookfestival.com.

Ends

For all media enquiries and interview requests please contact Olivia Mantle, Press Officer for Durham Book Festival, on 0191 233 3850 or email olivia@newwritingnorth.com

Notes to Editors:

• Durham Book Festival is co-produced by Durham City Arts and New Writing North. For more information on our work, see www.durhamcityarts.org and www.newwritingnorth.com.
• The event with Bill Bryson and fellow contributors to Seeing Further for the 350th anniversary of the Royal Society is presented by Durham University’s Institute of Advanced Study (IAS) in partnership with the Royal Society. Bill Bryson is Durham University Chancellor and is on the Advisory Council of the IAS.