Folkestone Book Festival 2016
FOLKESTONE QUARTERHOUSE / FRIDAY 18TH – SUNDAY 27TH NOVEMBER 2016
Ten days of talks by some of the world ' s leading authors and writers
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
Jonathan Coe Lemn Sissay Margaret Drabble © Ruth Corney
Across ten days , Folkestone Book Festival presents an eclectic programme of speakers with talks exploring subjects including art , science , food , history , mental health , fiction and much more . Delve into the past to predict the future , learn how we can live a happier , more fulfilled existence , hear the life stories of iconic figures in art , music and literature and discover the writers behind the fiction .
This year ' s festival begins with the switch on of the Folkestone Creative Quarter Christmas Lights . Folkestone Book Festival is delighted to welcome author of The Rotters ' Club and Number Eleven , Jonathan Coe , who will have the honour of launching the festivities in the Creative Quarter and presenting the first talk of the festival , Tales that Witness Madness at 7pm .
If you are a lover of language then don ’ t miss David Crystal ’ s fascinating insights into the way we use words . From pitch and pace to jokes and parodies , David will share his expert understanding of eloquence . The festival is thrilled to welcome author , poet and broadcaster Lemn Sissay . Aged 18 Lemn hand-sold his first poetry collection to the miners on picket lines . Since then his poems have been sculpted in iron and built from concrete and recited in over twenty countries .
This year Folkestone Book Festival asks the big questions of life , the universe and everything ! Meet Britain ’ s most famous mathematician , professor for public understanding of science Marcus du Sautoy . Is the universe infinite ? Do we know what happened before the Big Bang ? Marcus will explore these questions and more in his talk Explorations at the Edge of Knowledge . Can we predict the future by looking to the past ?
Professor of cosmology , an Astrophysics Sir Martin Rees , reflects on the predictions of HG Wells and ponders what the iconic writer would have made of the 21st century .
For those who find themselves fixated on fiction , Folkestone Book Festival has something for all tastes . Author of The Dark Flood Rises , Margaret Drabble , will submit to a bibliotherapy session with the authors of The Novel Cure , talking about her reading habits from childhood to today and her most influential books .
History buffs will be in their element with Alison Weir ’ s talk The Life of Katherine of Aragon , revealing the childhood story of the Spanish Princess who was destined to be an English Queen . Historian Julie Peakman tells the story of 18th-century madame , Peg Plunkett and the dukes , barristers and lieutenants she left in her wake . Gregory Woods identifies the ways in which homosexuality has helped shape western culture across continents and languages , and explores the coping strategies of minorities , the hypocrisies of conservatism and the effects of positive and negative discrimination .
Don ’ t miss a lively debate with political columnist and broadcaster Steve Richards and the Rock
‘ n ’ Roll Politics show ! Combining comedy and analysis , this very special show for Folkestone will feature former London mayor Ken Livingstone and novelist , QC and MP Bob Marshall Andrews .
The legendary Edward Fox stars in his one man show Sand in the Sandwiches : A celebration of John Betjeman ; alt-rock icon Kristin Hersh of Throwing Muses performs a very special solo set and reads from her newest work ; and a panel including Victoria Hislop and Alexi Kaye Campbell invite you on a Mediterranean journey exploring the history , food and culture of Greece .
The festival has a number of exclusive offers including a Festival Pass at £ 100 , group bookings and special weekend tickets .
For more information visit www . folkestonebookfest . com or call 01303 760750 .
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