Wealth of Top Writers at the Guildford Book Festival This October

Published on: 4 Sep, 2012
Updated on: 4 Sep, 2012

The Guildford Book Festival returns to town this October, promising literature lovers an exciting 10 days.

The festival runs from Thursday to Saturday, October 18 to 27, and highlights include a special appearence from writer and comedian Sandi Toksvig, comedy writer Ben Miller and BBC arts editor Will Gompertz.

: Ben Miller

: Sandi Toksvig

: Will Gompertz

This year’s event will not only focus on literature, but will see some of the nation’s favourite writers exploring history, comedy, crime, current affairs and art.

Short story writer Elizabeth Buchan describes it as: “A true celebration of books and reading, its programs are chosen to reflect the wide spectrum of readers’ interests.”

The events will be spread across Guildford, and include an event at Polesdon Lacey near Bookham with William Shawcross who will be reading from never before published letters written by the Queen Mother.

The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre will host An Audience with Mary Berry, the acclaimed British food writer and Judge on BBC 2’s The Great British Bake Off. The University of Surrey will host a celebration of science event, led by particle physicist Ben Miller (one half of Armstrong and Miller).

If fiction is your greatest love, one of the most popular events, Readers Day, on October 20, gives the public the chance to mix with a variety of authors including Clare Clark, Sadie Jones, Roma Tearne, Katherine McMahon, Steve Mosby and Andrew Martin.

Three household names in comedy will be introducing their new novels, Sandi Toksvig, (Valentine Grey), Jenny Eclair (Life, Death and Vanilla Slices) and Kathy Lette (The Boy Who Fell to Earth).

For art enthusiasts, Will Gompertz BBC arts editor and a former director of the Tate Gallery gives an exciting talk on his new book, What are You Looking At? 150 years of Modern Art in a Nutshell, that promises to change the way you look at modern art forever.

With many more events that promise to be just as exciting, the book festival promises to be a highlight of Guildford’s cultural calender. More details can be found on the website: www.guildfordbookfestival.co.uk and all events can be booked online and at festival box offices.