19 April 2010
Launch of 2010 Dundee Literary Festival
Photo opportunity: 1pm on Tuesday, April 20th at the front door of the University of Dundee’s Tower Building. Best selling author and former prisoner of war, Alastair Urquhart, will be joined by local children to launch the 2010 Dundee Literary Festival at the University’s war memorial plaque.
Alastair Urquhart, whose memoir of his time in a Japanese Prisoner of War camp, The Forgotten Highlander, has sold more than 20 thousand copies across the globe will tomorrow launch the 2010 Dundee Literary Festival.
The 90-year-old Broughty Ferry man is one of the many authors lined up to speak at this year’s Festival, which takes place from June 23rd to 27th. He will be joined by young children from the Dundee area to launch the annual celebration of literature at the University’s plaque commemorating those who died in the two world wars.
Anna Day, Director of Literary Dundee, said the fact Alastair will be joined by local youngsters highlighted how the University-organised Festival programme was devised to appeal to all age groups.
“We aim to ensure that there is something for everyone to enjoy at the Literary Festival, regardless of their age or taste,” she said. “We are passionate about spreading the word and encouraging a growing number of people to engage with the wonderful and diverse world of literature. The message is that you’re never too young or too old to enjoy books.”
The 2010 Dundee Literary Festival will also feature appearances from world-renowned authors such as Nick Cave, Iain Banks, Rosamunde Pilcher and John Carey. John Aberdein, who was recently named the winner of the Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust Book of the Year (fiction), for his novel, Strip the Willow, will also appear.
Jackie Kay will be reading from her astonishing memoir and Alan Warner will be talking about his new novel, The Stars In The Bright Sky. Christopher Reid won the 2009 Costa Prize for his poetry volume, The Scattering, which he will be discussing and reading from, while Lesley Glaister will thrill with her latest book, Chosen.
A writing school will be held for anyone who has thought about becoming a writer and local authors Neil Forsyth and Sue Peebles will be reading from their debut novels. Kenny Reid will be reading from his new book which deals with his golfing obsession while Stuart Kelly from Scotland on Sunday will be reading from his new book on Walter Scott.
A special event, held jointly with Dundee Contemporary Arts, will see author Allan
Brown discuss his book examining the film, The Wicker Man and show previously unseen clips from the original film.
A series of events focussing on children’s books will also be held, with illustrator and writer Alison Murray visiting schools in the area to read from her book, Apple Pie ABC.
The fourth annual Dundee Comic Conference will take place on the final day of the Festival, with this year’s line up including star names from the world of animation including Dez Skinn, Rian Hughes and Pat Mills.
Ms Day continued, “We've got a fantastic line up this year and it should be a really exciting few days. We've managed to organise some amazing events with Nick Cave and Iain Banks taking part.
“Our highly popular Poem and a Piece lunches will be taking place every day during the Festival. We are dedicated to promoting new writers and a number of showcase events will take place while the past few years have seen the Comic Conference go from strength to strength."
Now in its fourth year, this year’s Festival is bigger than ever, and will see some of the most talked about names from the world of literature, journalism, philosophy and politics take part in a series of workshops, talks, book signings, and readings. Events will take place at the Dalhousie Building, Old Hawkhill, Dundee.
The full programme can be viewed at www.literarydundee.co.uk, and tickets are available from Literary Dundee, 5th floor, Tower Building (tel: 01382 384413).
For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07852 953277 |
