Literary lights set to shine in city festival

Oct 17 2008 by Michael Green, Chester Chronicle

THE 2008 Shell Chester Literature Festival continues to provide an autumnal feast of challenging and stimulating events.

Ffion Hague, Nicholas Crane and Anne Stevenson are just a few of the leading literary lights who will be heading for the city over the next seven days.

Here is a full list of what’s in store for the next week:

Saturday, October 18 – Sunday, October 19: Chester Oyez!: Vibrant, packed weekend of events celebrates the spoken word in all forms in venues throughout the city centre and most are free. Listen to story-telling, pop-up poets, drama, the Town Crier. To find out more, visit www.chesterfestivals.co.uk/literature or call 01244 409113.

Monday, October 20 – 7.45pm: University of Chester - A chance to hear poet, and biographer of Sylvia Plath, Anne Stevenson, who has won literary prizes worth £200,000. She will read from her work and then be in conversation with novelist and poet Alan Wall.

Tickets £6.50.

Monday, October 20 – 7.30pm: Queen’s School – Women in the Life of Lloyd George – Ffion Hague’s new book reveals a life in perpetual conflict. The great prime minister was an habitual womaniser and marriage did not curb his affairs. The wife of the shadow foreign secretary reveals how these many scandals affected Lloyd George’s life of public duty. Tickets £6.50.

Tuesday, October 21 – 7.45pm: Bishop Lloyd’s Palace – Jean Sprackland– The festival presents the second of its two major prize-winning poets. Tickets £6.50.

Wednesday, October 22 – 1.15pm:– Bitesize Lunchtime Poems at St Peter’s by the Cross. Admission free.

Wednesday, October 22 – 7.45pm: Molloy Lecture Theatre, University of Chester – Nicholas Crane on Great British Journeys – Best known for his work as a presenter on the BBC’s Coast and Map Man series. Tickets £7.50.

Thursday, October 23 – 7.30pm: Bishop Lloyd’s Palace – RS Downie on Deva’s reluctant detective hero – The role of Medicus to the twentieth legion in Deva is never dull.Tickets £6.50.

Thursday, October 23 - 7.30pm: Bear & Billet Chester Writers – A public reading of new writing. Tickets £4 at the door (no advance tickets).

How to book: By telephone - 01244 304 618. Online - visit www.chesterfestivals.co.uk or www.chester-races.co.uk. By telephone - 01244 304 618. Online - visit www.chesterfestivals.co.uk or www.chester-races.co.uk.