Our thoughts on the 2018 Hay Festival programme

Featured image via: Hayfestival.com

With the release of the programme for this year’s literary Hay festival, we pick through some of the choice events on offer

The Hay Festival is a true juggernaut in the world of literature. Every May, thousands of people descend on a small town on the Welsh borders to hear from some of the most famous voices in fiction, as well as a range of historians, comedians, musicians and activists. As event organiser Peter Florence said this week “we need to hear the wisest voices, not the loudest.”

This year, as before, the line up is stellar. There are a range of topics under discussion, from the current lack of political empathy to 100 years of women’s suffrage, adding bite to the festival’s annual celebration of literature and ideas. Here are some of our picks for the must-see speakers:

1. Margaret Atwood

One of the great authors of her generation, Margaret has been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize on five separate occasions. Of course, her recent surge in fame is in large part due to the astronomical success of last year’s The Handmaid’s Tale, a TV adaptation of Atwood’s 1985 dystopic masterpiece. Unsurprisingly, her talk about the book on 28^th May is already sold out, but the author will be back the following evening to discuss all the works of her phenomenal career.

2. Michael Morpurgo and Barroux

The acclaimed children’s author will be introducing his latest novel In the Mouth of the Wolf on 27^th May. The book, a story of his two uncles Pieter and Francis during World War II, is illustrated by the talented French artist Barroux, who will join Morpurgo on stage. At the event, Michael will read excerpts from the book, which Barroux will attempt to draw live.

3. Philip Pullman

Fresh off the release of The Book of Dust, the author of His Dark Materials will be at Hay on 2^nd June to take part in a couple of talks. The first will cover his latest releases, while in the second he will join Marina Warner and Jack Zipes to discuss the importance of fairy tales and folklore in addressing the terrors of humanity.

4. Jacqueline Wilson

The longstanding and much-loved children’s author will be at Hay on 28^th May to talk about how it all started – before Tracy Beaker, Cliffhanger and Hetty Feather had entered the public consciousness. She’ll also give some details about her upcoming release, Rose Rivers, the latest in the Hetty Feather series.

5. Ian Mcewan

The coveted author of Atonement and The Comfort of Strangers will be at the Festival on the first Sunday to talk about how his books have made the translation to film. Ten years on from the release of Atonement, this year will see another of Mcewan’s most notable novels, On Chesil Beach come out on the silver screen; so this should be a fascinating glimpse at the screenwriting process. He will also announce the winner of the 2018 Deborah Rogers Foundation award.

6. Michael Wolff

While Go With Me typically prefers to discuss fiction, in this case we’re prepared to make an exception. Wolff, the author of Fire and Fury, gained a first person behind the scenes perspective on the Trump presidency during his work on the book. Whatever your political stance, the stories gained from his access to one of the world’s most unorthodox political figures are sure to be fascinating.

7. Fiona Sampson

British poet Fiona has become one of the leading experts on the Romantics, and received an MBE last year for her life’s work. At Hay, she will be presenting the story of Mary Shelley as part of the 200 year anniversary of the release of Frankenstein. Using letters, diaries and records, Sampson will give a glimpse of the woman behind the story.

8. Salman Rushdie

On the middle Tuesday of the festival, the world-famous author of Midnight’s Children and The Satanic Verses will be present to discuss contemporary American culture and how it forms the centre of his latest parable, The Golden House. Given his predilection for human absurdity, it’s likely to be as eye-opening as it is entertaining.

9. Rikke Schmidt Kjaergaard and Bill Bryson

When Danish scientist Kjaergaard was 38, she fell ill with acute bacterial meningitis. The result, after a coma, was that she was unable to show any sign of consciousness except via the blinking of an eye. With only this to go on, her husband Peter had to learn to interpret each movement, and together the two work to teach her how to breathe, move and eat again. She’s joined on stage by Bill Bryson, who considers her tale “the most spellbinding and harrowing story I believe I have ever heard.

10. Cressida Cowell

After years writing about the exploits of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock in How to Train Your Dragon, the acclaimed children’s author has moved on to pastures new with her new book The Wizards of Once. In her talk on the opening Saturday, Cressida will talk about her inspirations for the beloved series, as well as tips for anyone with aspirations of being an  author and illustrator themselves.

 

We’ll be talking through all these events and more on Facebook Live this afternoon at four. Don’t miss out!