July 20, 2018 10.58 am This story is over 67 months old

Lincoln Book Festival returning this autumn

There is a variety of events during the week

War Horse writer Michael Morpurgo is among the acclaimed guest authors set to capture the minds of local budding readers at this year’s week-long Lincoln Book Festival.

Novelists historians, biographers, broadcasters, academics and cultural commentators will feature at the event, which is set to take place across different city venues between September 24-29, with most held at The Collection and Lincoln Drill Hall.

The theme of this year’s festival is revolution, celebrating the centenary of British women winning the right to vote.

The line-up of acclaimed guest authors also includes Tracy Borman, Sally Nicholls, Marcus Chown, Maggie Andrews and Janis Lomas.

Tickets for all Lincoln Book Festival events are available via the Lincoln Drill Hall Box Office or by calling 01522 873894 or online here.

Author events are typically priced £10 per ticket (Michael Morpurgo from £12), while some activities are free to attend.

Summary of events

  • Saturday and Sunday September 22-23 at Lincoln Drill Hall – Simon Reade’s acclaimed stage adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s Private Peaceful.
  • Monday, September 24 at The Collection – A launch party showcasing the work of literacy charity First Story. First Story will also launch its new Wordsmith poetry competition. Award-winning young adult fiction writer Sally Nicholls is the special guest offering tips on writing, reading and creative inspiration.
  • Tuesday, September 25 at The Collection – Top science writer Marcus Chown, author of The Sunday Times Science Book of the Year 2017 will feature, while acclaimed historian and biographer Rebecca Fraser will talk about her award-winning new narrative history The Mayflower Generation.
  • Wednesday, September 26 at Lincoln Drill Hall – Multi-award-winning children’s writer Michael Morpurgo will discuss his latest novel In the Mouth of the Wolf.
  • Thursday, September 27 at Lincoln Drill Hall/The Collection– Focus on women’s rights and the suffrage movement with a talk by playwright Stephen Gillard in the afternoon at Lincoln Drill Hall.  In the evening historians Professor Maggie Andrews and Dr Janis Lomas will discuss their book A History of Women in 100 Objects at The Collection.
  • Friday, September 28 at The Collection – Musician, writer, music journalist and TV presenter John Robb talks about the story of punk. The city’s Oxfam Bookshop in Cornhill will then host an open mic poetry evening.
  • Saturday, September 29 at The Collection/Lincoln Drill Hall – A celebration of Lincolnshire’s past with the fesitval’s Local History Morning at The Collection with speakers including Peter Worsley. In the evening Lincoln-born historian Tracy Borman will talk about her latest book and debut novel at Lincoln Drill Hall.

On Friday and Saturday (September 28-29) there will be performances of Scamp Theatres’s live stage adaptation of the modern classic children’s book Stick Man at Lincoln Drill Hall.

A variety of speakers will feature at this year’s Lincoln Book Festival

Lincoln Book Festival chairman, Phil Hamlyn Williams, said: “We’re delighted to welcome so many exceptional authors to Lincoln Book Festival for our week-long celebration of outstanding history writing and historical fiction this September.

“This year’s theme of revolution gives us a lens to explore the centenary of some British women winning the right to vote and other key historical developments in women’s rights. We also look at an array of fascinating topics and a variety of different books, from children’s writing to biography, music journalism to popular science.

“As ever, we’re grateful to all our sponsors and supporters for making the festival possible, including Arts Council England who have provided vital grant support to help us put together such a broad programme of literary events and reach out to new and existing audiences.”

Lincoln Book Festival 2018 is supported with new grant funding from Arts Council England through the National Lottery.