Jun 17 - Louis de Bernières Confirmed As Literary Festival Speaker
- First announcement made this morning
- Former First Sea Lord of the Royal Navy, Admiral Alan West, joins line up
- Jonathan Meades, academic Matthias Strohn, Boyd Tonkin, and Sally Bayley will also feature in this year’s festival
Louis de Bernières, the author of the hugely popular novel ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’, has been confirmed as a speaker at this year’s edition of the Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival which will take place from 20th-23rd October.
The former First Sea Lord of the Royal Navy, Admiral Alan West also joins the line up.
The event, now in its fourth edition, is now honoured to have received Royal Patronage from HRH the Princess Royal.
Louis de Bernières is a famous English author well known for his 1994 novel ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin,’ which was later adapted into a film.
Admiral Lord West served in Gordon Brown’s Labour Cabinet (2007-2010) as Parliamentary Undersecretary for Security and Counter-Terrorism. An outspoken opponent of Scottish independence, in 2011 he contributed a piece for the book ‘What Next For Labour? Ideas for a New Generation,’ arguing in favour of increased defence spending.
Also confirmed are Jonathan Meades, academic Matthias Strohn, Boyd Tonkin, and Sally Bayley.
Food critic and filmmaker for the BBC Jonathan Meades will be discussing his forthcoming cookbook ‘The Plagiarist in the Kitchen.’
Dr Matthias Strohn, a senior lecturer in the war studies department at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, will be launching his new book ‘The Royal Gibraltar Regiment 1939- 2014’. Dr Strohn advised German and British government bodies on the centenary commemorations of World War One.
Boyd Tonkin will be delivering the Gibraltar Lecture which he recently gave at the Oxford Literary Festival, examining references to Gibraltar in classic literature while Dr Sally Bayley will lead an interactive lecture on the art of diary writing. Dr Bayley is a tutor in English at Balliol and St. Hugh’s Colleges, Oxford and is completing a study of the diary and journal as a form of literary and social self-construction.
Minister for Tourism Samantha Sacramento said: “We are delighted to be organising the literary festival which is now in its fourth edition, once again. The event is going from strength to strength, and this year we have managed to secure some top names which are very popular in Gibraltar and whose presence will, no doubt, ensure that the festival is another resounding success.
“The literary festival is an outstanding consequence of our event-led tourism policy which is yielding fruit year after year, with this and other high profile events held throughout the year, which have had a tremendous positive impact on the Rock’s social and cultural calendar. It is also helping to put Gibraltar on the map as a unique tourist destination for quality cultural and leisure events.”
Further participants, including local authors, will be announced shortly. For further information consult the festival website at www.gibraltarliteraryfestival.com
Pics: Top left: Minister Sacramento with Tourist Board CEO Nicky Guerrero making the announcement this morning at the Garrison Library. Below: Louis de Bernières
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