Isle of Wight Literary Festival

About

A popular annual event in the Isle of Wight calendar, the Isle of Wight Literary Festival will be held between the 3rd and 6th October 2024 at Northwood House, Cowes. The festival will once again be providing a varied and exciting programme with something for everyone.

History, politics, current affairs, environmental matters and law are among the topics featured at this year's Festival.

Top literary names from television, politics, history and the world of food and drink are among headline authors who will be appearing at this year’s Isle of Wight Literary Festival.

Speakers lined up to appear at the festival is MP and TV personality Gyles Brandreth, broadcaster Clare Balding, TV lexicographer and Countdown star Susie Dent, and award winning actress and author Celia Imrie.

Also appearing will be former Government minister Rt. Hon. The Lord Fowler, celebrated music writer and publisher David Hepworth, historian Tracy Borman, Atlantic rower Simon Howes and reporter-turned-author Martin Sixsmith, who returns to the festival following a sell-out appearance last year.

LitFeast - The LitFeast at the festival also returns bringing a smorgasbord of talks and demonstration to tickle the palate and feed the brain. Kicking off the LitFeast is a master class in wine tasting with Helen McGinn, resident wine expert for BBC's Saturday Kitchen and ITV's This Morning. Jane Lovett offers tips on getting ready for Christmas (demonstration). Improve your gut health with advice from gastroenterologist and winner of 2017 Master Chef, Saliha Mahmood Ahmed (demonstration). Delicious and easy to prepare dishes are offered by Elena Silcock, cookery writer, food blogger and managing food editor at Mob (demonstration). Hone your practical skills with a demonstration of butchery and advice on preparing chicken by Matt Egan, head of House and in partnership with The Butcher Shop. Finish you day of culinary delights by learning about the food and culture of Yemen. The event will be brought to life with a cooking demonstration by a Yemeni chef, while Ibrahim Zanta takes participants on a journey into the heart of Yemen and its food and people.

As well as a stream of highly renowned authors, the festival will also feature a new jazz event and the return of the popular Fizz Quiz (Thursday 3rd October, 7.30pm at the Island Sailing Club).

Local authors - this year's Isle of Wight Literary Festival is promoting local Island authors. Throughout the festival, local authors can sell their books in the Marketplace. Presented by the Naked Figleaf Collective, local authors will have the opportunity to introduce their book to an audience with an entertaining two-minute 'elevator pitch' on Friday 4th October. The local authors' panel, From Inspiration to Publication, provides advice and information about getting your book published. Click here for more information. 

Tickets are now on sale please visit the website. 

For more information visit www.isleofwightliteraryfestival.com.