Cheltenham Literature Festival, 2019
October 4 - October 13
Could there be a more appropriate setting for The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival than the historic Regency spa town of Cheltenham. Originally held in the town hall, the festival was the world’s first literary festival. It forms a key part of the Cheltenham Festivals season.
Cheltenham: The Perfect Setting
Since therapeutic mineral waters were discovered there in the early 18th Century, Cheltenham has been a magnet for visitors.
On the edge of the Cotswolds with its gentle, quintessentially English scenery, Cheltenham is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with The River Chelt flowing through the town on its way to the River Severn. Unsurprisingly, with this scenic location, the town is home to several festivals throughout the year, as the Cheltenham Festivals, including this world famous Literary Festival, which is held every October.
Seven and Seventy
This year marks the seventieth anniversary of the Cheltenham Literature Festival. Entitled Seven and Seventy, more than five hundred events will take place during this time involving the biggest names from books, food, comedy, fashion, travel, history, art, sport, science, stage and screen.
The list of those taking place will be revealed on 1 July followed by the full programme on 16 August.
Following the theme of seven, there will be seven famous guest curators of the programme. Seven partnerships with other international festivals will be in place with a seventy strong Reading the World reading list included in the programme.
Seven major writers will discuss their works, as well as seven emerging writing talents, as part of the festival philosophy to promote and stimulate new writers. Key societal changes will be explored through novels of the past seventy years, especially for those interested in the development of societal literary norms over the past seven decades.
Book festivals from around the world are set to join this special anniversary with writers from New Zealand, Lagos, Tokyo, San Francisco, Dublin, Toronto and Buenos Aries in attendance. The Podcast in Residence will encourage discussion on the past seventy years of the festival.
As usual, children’s literature will play an important part and the 2019 Literature for Schools’ programme is currently on sale.
Cheltenham Literary Festival 2019 Line-Up
Full information on the guest curators with their bios will be available on line here.
When is the Cheltenham Literature Festival
4 to 13 October, 2019.
Tickets for the Cheltenham Literature Festival
Information about tickets can be found from the box office on 01242 850270 or [email protected]
More information on Cheltenham Festivals.
For more information on both the Cheltenham Literature Festival and other Cheltenham Festivals, including the Cheltenham Music Festival and the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, click here.
