Two bestselling authors have come together in Belfast, to launch the city`s first ever Book Festival.
Lord Mayor Tom Hartley – author of `Written in Stone, the history of the City Cemetery – joined Booker Prize-winner, John Banville, at the Linenhall Library for the opening event.
The Belfast Book Festival, supported by Belfast City Council, runs from 24 February to 1 March and features more than 30 events at 11 venues across the city, including the Linen Hall and Central libraries.
Other organisations involved include CultureNorthernIreland, the Verbal Arts Centre, Books NI and the Belfast Education and Library Board.
David Lewis, Belfast Book Festival director, said:
“We are thrilled to welcome John Banville to the Belfast Book Festival. His appearance highlights the calibre of writing talent that will be descending on Belfast in February. His huge success writing both literary fiction and crime thriller novels is a mark of his diverse talent.
“The Belfast Book Festival celebrates books and writers in their many amazing forms: from leading creativity guru Charles Leadbeater to a cookery demonstration from Simon Dougan of The Yellow Door Deli to a rare opportunity to attend a masterclass with Ciaran Carson, director of the Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry, it will truly be a varied festival.
“With so many high profile organisations working together, we hope to have a major impact in 2009 and in years to come. The Belfast Book Festival will reflect Belfast`s growing international reputation in the field of literature and our exuberant contemporary writing scene.”
Lord Mayor Tom Hartley praised Lewis and his team for the calibre of the first festival programme.
“Belfast has a rich and palpable literary heritage, having produced many authors, poets and playwrights of international renown, from Jonathan Swift to Brian Moore, Seamus Heaney to Marie Jones.
“We also have a great belief in the transforming power of books, and I look forward to this festival becoming an annual celebration of the joys and enrichment that reading can bring into our lives,” said Councillor Hartley.
Other festival guests include Barbara Best McNarry, who recently published `Our George`, a memoir of life with her legendary footballing brother, George Best; broadcaster Gerry Anderson reminiscing about his show band days; and artist, Rita Duffy, revealing how books have influenced her paintings.
Other events include bilingual readings for children in Irish and Ulster Scots, award-winning writers Claire Kilroy and Toby Litt, The Irish Pages Debate on historical fiction, a Dead Poets Society with recordings of writers from beyond the grave, and a tour of Baird`s printers in Antrim.
Booking for Belfast Book Festival events is encouraged to avoid disappointment. Tickets can be obtained from www.linenhall.com, by telephoning 028 9032 1707, or in person at the Linen Hall Library, 17 Donegall Square North, Belfast.
For further information, visit www.belfastbookfestival.com or email info@belfastbookfestival.com
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