FRIDAY 16 – SUNDAY 25 NOVEMBER
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
( L-R ) TOP : Jenni Murray © Les Wilson ; Charles Spencer ; Bettany Hughes BOTTOM : Matt Haig © Kan Lailey ; Hannah Fry ; Robin Ince
FOLKESTONE BOOK FESTIVAL 2018
FRIDAY 16 – SUNDAY 25 NOVEMBER
TEN DAYS OF AUTHOR TALKS , THOUGHT-PROVOKING DISCUSSIONS , ENGAGING FAMILY EVENTS AND FASCINATING WORKSHOPS .
Launching on Friday 16th November , Folkestone Book Festival also marks the Creative Quarter Christmas lights switch-on . This year ’ s festivities will be led by award-winning author Kit de Waal , whose heart-breaking novel , My Name is Leon , won Irish Novel of the Year in 2017 .
This year ’ s Festival welcomes a variety of speakers from the world of history , including journalist and broadcaster , Jenni Murray , who has presented BBC4 ’ s Woman ’ s Hour since 1987 . Jenni takes us through A History of Britain in 21 Women – exploring the queens , visionaries , artists and politicians whose lives embodied hope and change .
Also looking at women in history , the UK ’ s biggest-selling female historian , Alison Weir , draws on research for her portrayal of Jane Seymour , the third of King Henry VIII ’ s queens . Alison casts fresh light on perceptions of this courageous and compassionate woman .
Jumping forward one hundred years , best-selling author Charles Spencer uses Samuel Pepys ’ account to retell the epic adventure of King Charles II , who came to the throne following the beheading of his father , King Charles I in January 1649 .
Delve into global history as award-winning historian and author Bettany Hughes discusses her latest book , Istanbul , a Tale of Three Cities . Enraptured by the thriving metropolis , Bettany pieces together Istanbul ’ s brilliant and brutal history .
Exploring what it means , and how to be human , BBC Radio 4 ’ s Inside Science presenter , geneticist Adam Rutherford , discusses how many of the things once considered to be exclusively human , are not . Novelist and journalist , Matt Haig takes a personal look at how to feel happy , human and whole in the anxiety and stress-ridden twenty-first century .
While Hannah Fry takes us on a tour through the good , the bad and the downright ugly of the algorithms that surround us – exploring how to be human in the age of the machine .
Don ’ t miss talks and events by special guests from the world of art and music , including pioneering punk legend , Viv Albertine . With a blend of humour , vulnerability and intelligence making her one of the finest authors working today , Viv smashes through layers of propriety , leading us into a place of savage self-discovery .
The master of the comedyscience mashup and copresenter of BBC radio ’ s The Infinite Monkey Cage , Robin Ince attempts to offer answers to some of life ’ s biggest questions .
Indian Day welcomes journalists , politicians , authors and historians , offering talks , workshops and performances ; as well as 2014 Great British Bake Off semi-finalist , Chetna Makan , who will share top tips about how
to introduce Indian ingredients into traditional Western favourites .
Forged in the dustbowl of the 1930s , in an America crippled by the Great World Recession , Woody Guthrie found solace in song , and soon those songs became the voice of the people . Enjoy a performance from Nick Hayes as he brings this legend to life on US Day , after a variety of talks from sociolinguistics and the US economy ; to American politics and history .
The festival has a number of exclusive offers including early bird ticket prices which are available before and inclusive of Sunday 16th September . If you just can ’ t decide which events to prioritise why not buy the Folkestone Book Festival pass , gaining access to all events . The pass is available at the early bird price of £ 140 , please contact Box Office on 01303 760 750 to purchase or visit www . folkestonebookfest . com
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