The Daunt Books Spring Festival: Literature in London

For a while the future of books looked bleak. Sure, with a single click we can carry the entire canon on an e-reader – but this perfunctory and solitary experience overlooks the pure pleasure of sharing a well-thumbed tome with fellow bibliophiles, or the tactile gratification of flicking through crisp pages. 

The support shown by writers and publishers is obvious from the impressive list of literary legends involved in the eclectic array of events. Stars such as Michael Morpurgo, A. L. Kennedy and Maggie O’Farrell will talk candidly to intimate audiences; discussions range from the power of short stories to the Bloomsbury set’s favourite suppers. Culture Whisper’s top picks include the fascinating Virago Classics talk, where a panel of esteemed authors will share their experience as readers, as well as an insight into contemporary writing from literature’s ‘Bright Young Things’, including Adam Foulds and Evie Wyld. The full programme can be seen here

Convenience comes in its own unique form. Rather than illicitly browsing online titles at work, why not nip out for a fulfilling lunch break lecture? With events scheduled across two days, from morning to evening, for bookworms of all ages, James Daunt describes how he wants to create a ‘feeling of truancy’ to entice people to slip out of quotidian life for an hour of enlightenment. Free after-school events will fire up even the most reluctant of children, while a selection of nibbles from Marylebone’s independent eateries The Fromagerie and The Ginger Pig will provide sustenance.

Best-selling author and festival speaker Deborah Levy rather hits the nail on the head, describing this exciting literary innovation as “An inspired idea for both readers and writers – a literary festival in an independent bookshop is the future. ” And this is certainly future to excite and inspire booklovers.

The Daunt books Spring Festival will start on March 27. For more information, check our preview

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