CityLife

Opening the cover on Manchester Literature Festival 2009

MLF 2009

THIS year’s Manchester Literature Festival promises to celebrate a diverse array of literary forms, with events focused around poetry, fiction and non-fiction, genre writing, blogging, and a whole weekend devoted to the short story.

In a year that saw Carol Anne Duffy become the first female Poet Laureate, it is fitting that her home town will welcome a host of trailblazing literary dames.

Kate Atkinson, the newly crowned queen of genre reinvention, will introduce her latest crime thriller featuring PI Jackson Brodie; broadcasting legend Joan Bakewell will be taking tea at the Midland and discussing her autobiography; acclaimed crime writer Val McDermid and children’s author Michelle Magorian will also appear, as will Kate Mosse, Fay Weldon, poet Ruth Padel and novelists Sarah Hall and MJ Hyland.

Snazzy interactive features

In the boys corner we have (the slightly crinkly) enfants terribles Martin Amis, and Will Self (see interview, below); the nation’s favourite failed rock star Simon Armitage; Douglas Adams’ appointed successor Eoin Colfer; Cracker-scriptwriter Jimmy McGovern, the ever innovative and delightfully off-kilter Jeff Noon, acclaimed Irish poet Michael Longley and many others, including poet Nick Laird and the brilliant debut novelist Jacob Polley, who will appear at a special No Point In Not Being Friends, the local reading night set to return for a festival special.

There are new venues, a Rainy City Stories walking tour, a range of writing workshops and snazzy interactive features like a virtual poetic busker.

After the success of last year, the fourth annual Blog Awards is likely to draw a lively crowd and, for those of more rarefied tastes, the MMU Prize Gala celebrating excellence in fiction will point the way for the next generation of literary hopefuls.

The festival brochure is available to download from the MLF website at manchester literaturefestival.co.uk and as the festival’s media partner, CityLife will be bringing you all the highlights.