Inspiring line up of authors for Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival Spring Weekend
An inspiring line up of authors will be heading to the East Devon coast this March for Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival’s Spring Weekend.
Famous names heading to the seaside town this March include BBC newsreader and journalist Clive Myrie, Poet Laureate Simon Armitage and mathematician Marcus du Sautoy. The Festival stages two events a year: the two-day Spring Weekend, which this year takes place on 1 and 2 March, and the main Festival which takes place between 18 and 22 September.
BBC broadcaster Clive Myrie will explore how his family history has influenced his view of the world. He will reflect on how being black has affected his perspective on issues he’s encountered in 30 years reporting some of the biggest stories of our time, showing us how those experiences gave him a better idea of what it means to be an outsider.
Poet Laureate Simon Armitage will be talking about his creative process and his work, including his latest book Never Good with Horses, a collection of his song lyrics including those with his band Land Yacht Regatta. A winner of a prestigious Ivor Novello Award, Simon will also be reading his work to KS3 and 4 students from the region at a free event earlier in the day subsidised by the Festival’s outreach work.
Professor Marcus du Sautoy is widely known for his work to popularise mathematics. He appears regularly in the media and has written numerous academic articles and popular books on mathematics. He’ll be talking about his new book, Around the World in 80 Games, investigating how games provided the first opportunities for deep mathematical insight into the world, how understanding maths can help us play games better, and how both maths and games are integral to human psychology and culture.
Former head of the international affairs think tank Chatham House, Sir Robin Niblett talks about his new book which focusses on the tensions between the US and China and what he sees as the new Cold War, whilst journalists Sam Peters and Hannah Barnes will be exploring why investigative journalism is more important than ever. Both are behind two of the biggest news investigations of the recent era: Sam Peters was the journalist who first raised the issue of the potential link between concussion in sport and early onset dementia and brain damage, whilst Hannah Barnes lead the BBC Newsnight team behind the NHS’s Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS), based at the Tavistock and Portman Trust in North London.
Sue Briggs, chair of Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival, said: “We’re really pleased to bring this fascinating and diverse mix of authors to Budleigh Salterton. Our Spring Weekend has become a firm favourite for book lovers and those interested in politics and culture, from across the region and we’re looking forward to welcoming them to our town soon.”
Tickets are on sale to Festival Friends from 22 January and on general sale from 29 January. All events take place in St Peter's Church, Budleigh Salterton.
To book call 0333 666 3366 or visit budlitfest.org.uk
