Boswell Book Festival, the world’s only festival dedicated to biography and memoir, is returning online this year with a jam-packed programme.
Taking place on June 10-14, this year’s Boswell Book Festival will be a virtual event with some of the most talked about biographers, diarists and writers of memoir in attendance.
Named in honour of Ayrshire’s James Boswell, the inventor of modern biography, the festival has attracted some of the greatest biographers and memoirists from across the globe.
Caroline Knox, festival director, said: “I have never been more grateful for our unique theme of biography and memoir than in planning this exciting first online festival, which we are offering free of charge thanks to the generous support of loyal sponsors and with the help of your much needed donations.
“Not only will we showcase a rich choice of home-grown talent but the lack of geographical borders has allowed me to search further afield to find speakers and new partnerships from America and Canada to Australia and Italy – even including one with our namesake, the Boswell Book Company in Milwaukee.”
Due to the altered status of the event the organisers have added extra features in order to keep audiences entertained.
Each day will have a dedicated Scottish host including James Knox on June 10 and Sally Magnusson on Saturday 12, with excerpts from James Boswell’s work being read by Bill Paterson whose voice can currently be heard narrating BBC1’s The Repair Shop before each session.
The festival begins on Thursday, June 10 with the audience invited to join an Evening Party of talk, music and art in Edinburgh’s Old Town hosted by William Zachs in the company of Andrew Marr, Bill Paterson, Robert Burns and Ludwig Van Beethoven.
Broadcaster, journalist and critic Marr, who is a lifelong fan of Boswell, will also talk about why Boswell matters.
Amongst those talking about their extraordinary lives are Charlie Gilmore (adopted son of Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmore) and comedian Janey Godley whose story about growing up in impoverished Glasgow has won many plaudits.
Harriet MacMillan, Literature Officer, Creative Scotland said: “Boswell Book Festival is a unique literary celebration and we are delighted to be able to continue to support this coming together of writers and audiences.
“As the world’s only festival of biography and memoir, it’s particularly exciting to see that this year’s digital form will allow both local and international audiences to enjoy the programme.”
For more visit www.boswellbookfestival.co.uk
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