Literature Festival 2012
Critically-acclaimed Dickens biographer Claire Tomalin and BBC TV presenter Evan Davis are among the big names appearing at this year's Derbyshire Literature Festival.
This is the 7th Derbyshire Literature festival organised by Derbyshire County Council which takes place every two years. In 2012 it runs from Friday, May 11 until Sunday, May 20 and features more than 65 events across the county.
Highlights include:
Claire Tomalin talks about her biography Charles Dickens: A Life, at Calke Abbey on Friday, May 11, as we celebrate 200 years since the novelist's birth.
Joanne Harris - best-selling author of Chocolat - reads from her latest novel Peaches for Monsieur le Curé in a special pre-publication event at Chesterfield Library on Friday, May 18.
Broadcaster and economist Evan Davis talks about his book Made in Britain in one of Derbyshire's finest surviving mills - Masson Mills in Matlock Bath - on Sunday, May 13.
BBC Security Correspondent Gordon Corera gives a talk about his latest book The Art of Betrayal: Life and Death in the British Secret Service at Chesterfield Library on Thursday, May 17.
Jackie Kay - poet and writer - discusses her award-winning memoir Red Dust Road and a new collection of short stories at the closing event of the festival in Belper Community Hall on Sunday, May 20.
A full programme of events is available in the related documents section.
If you would like to receive a copy of the Festival brochure please email: arts.team@derbyshire.gov.uk and ask to join our Festival mailing list.
Tickets
Tickets are now on sale and can be booked through any Derbyshire library or by contacting Call Derbyshire on 08456 058 058 or 01629 533190.
Credit card and debit card bookings can only be taken through Call Derbyshire. Cheques should be made out to "Derbyshire County Council".
Tickets for children under 16 years are free at all events. All children under 8 years must be accompanied by a parent or carer.
Festival Nonsense Poetry and Flash Fiction writing competition
To celebrate Edward Lear's bicentenary in 2012 we're asking you to have a go at writing your own nonsense poem or flash fiction story. Matt Black, Derbyshire Poet Laureate will be judging the competition and he has written a few handy tips on how to write nonsense to get you started.
A copy of the entry form and handy hints sheet can be downloaded from the related documents section.
The winners from each age category will be invited to perform their piece at An Evening of Nonsense with Matt Black which will be taking place during the Literature Festival.
Related documents
The following documents are in Portable Document Format (PDF). You can download the PDF software for free from the Adobe website (opens in a new window)
- Literature Festival brochure 2012 (1995KB)
- Nonsense Prose and Poetry Writing Competition Entry Form (1001KB)
- Nonsense Writing Competition handy hints (710KB)