Welcome to the eighteenth
Swindon Festival of Literature!

Yes, we are eighteen, and, like any hale and hearty eighteen year-old, are eager to celebrate, explore, and enjoy life to the full, in mind, body, and spirit.

So, this year, we will kick off not only with our usual Dawn Chorus frolic of mental and physical fun, and the rising sun, at 5.30am, but will also offer a Bank Holiday Monday afternoon of all-round health-enhancing activities. There will be a gentle walk, a steady run, and a short bike ride; followed by talks for walkers, runners, and cyclists, and any Festival follower who likes the idea of ministering to the health and well being of their mind and body.

This is the way it is at the Swindon Festival of Literature. We seek a little mens sana in corpore sano; exploring ideas about life and living; and bringing together people who like looking after mind and body and enjoy reading, writing, talking, and listening. Then, when ideas flow, almost anything interesting, enjoyable, funny, worthwhile, and memorable can happen!

In its attempt to lure you along, this year’s Festival includes novelists, poets, politicians, travellers, scientists, storytellers, sportsmen, historians, comedians, artists, and activists.

This year, we also have more competitions, new events, and local partners than ever before.

There will be events at midday, teatime, and in the evening, carefully spaced and placed to enable you to attend almost every one, should you have the stamina!

For the full at-a-glance Festival diary, see our Diary page.

And then, mark your own diary, so that from the 2nd to the 14th May you know where to be, if you want to be meeting, greeting, and listening to writers, thinkers, entertainers, and other Festival followers.

In Swindon, during the first fortnight of May, let’s celebrate things well thought, well written, and well said!

Please read on, and come along.

MATT HOLLAND

Festival Director

Welcome to the eighteenth Swindon Festival of Literature!

Welcome to the eighteenth
Swindon Festival of Literature!