"Lionel, Louis, Julian and Jane...."

The 19th Chester Literature Festival ( http://www.chesterlitfest.org.uk/ ) opens this Saturday with its Festival Book Swap at the Town Hall Square.

Call there for a leisurely open-air browse betwixt 10:30 am and 3pm.

Once again, there's a brilliant programme, from Saturday September 22nd, through to Thursday November1st!!

This includes Julian Clary ( in the Grosvenor Hotel, talking at the Festival Lunch, about his 1st novel:" Murder most fab" ) Louis de Bernieres, David Starkey, Katherine Whitehorn, Sir Roy Strong, Oliver James, Kate Long, Colin Dexter, Prunella Scales, Timothy West, Sir Ralph Fiennes, Jane Fearnley- Whittingstall, Andrew Motion, Adele Geras, Sophie Hannah, Lionel Blue.... and there's lots more, including local folk such as Chester Poets, Chester Writers, Chester born writer Paul Dowswell, and Dr Ashley Chantler, of Chester University who launches a new book of short-short stories written by local writers, each story making up a portrait of our city at the start of the 21st century...I need to pause for breath here so PLEASE forgive me for not mentioning everyone who enlivens this superb programme !

SO:

Bag a programme if you're near the city as you're guaranteed to find something to suit and stimulate you.

AND ALSO: Contact the Festival Box Office for more information on 01244 304618 at Chester Race Course, Chester, CH1 2LY.

You can also think about becoming a Friend of the Festival; see the website at top of this blog.

PS: "Murder most fab" is available from http://www.amazon.co.uk/ and all good book shops.

More about the Festival ( and novelist Kate Long in particular ) on my blog Monday April 30th.

Click on "April" in Archives list ( right)