David Peace heads for 2009 Chester Literature Festival

Sep 24 2009 Flintshire Chronicle

As part of the Shell Chester Literature Festival, two established and renowned authors will be arriving in Chester to talk about their latest books.

On Tuesday, October 13, David Peace – recently described by The Independent as British’s hottest author – comes to Chester to talk about the second novel in his Tokyo trilogy, Occupied City.

This has been a momentous year for David Peace: his powerful Red Riding quartet was adapted for Channel 4 and repeated last week.

And his controversial novel The Damned United was released as a film starring Michael Sheen; and he has moved back to the UK from Japan.

In his new book he dramatises the rumours of the complicity and conspiracy that surround the chilling case of the Teikoku Bank Massacre; of the man who was convicted of the crime; of the legacy of biological warfare programmes; and victims and survivors themselves.

The Guardian called the first part of the Tokyo triology Tokyo Year Zero “a throttling good fictional account of the city’s post-war turbulence”.

On Monday, October 12 bestselling historical novelist and defence commentator of the Daily Telegraph, Allan Mallison talks about his new book, The History of the British Army.

From the English Civil War to today’s war on terror, Mallison examines how the Army’s dramatic past has made it one of the world’s most effective fighting forces.

The Shell Chester Literature Festival takes place from October 3-18 this year and features many authors, poets, novelists and new writers along with many more.

Tickets are selling fast so book early to avoid disappointment. They can be booked online by visiting www.chesterfestivals.co.uk or over the phone on 0845 2417868 or in person at the Tourist Information Centre by the Town Hall.