Hastings Literary Festival has announced its programme for 2019, featuring George Orwell’s adopted son Richard Blair, musician and writer Tracey Thorn, TV presenters Alice Roberts and Lucy Cooke, and many local authors among a wide array of literary talent.

The festival runs from Friday August 30 to Sunday September 1, with 52 events at venues throughout Hastings and St Leonards. Its theme ‘in other words’ reflects Hastings LitFest’s ambition to bring together a diverse range of literary voices.

Richard Blair will make a rare appearance to discuss the huge cultural impact of his father George Orwell, whose real name was Eric Blair. Orwell, best known for his novels Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four, also wrote literary criticism, poetry and polemical journalism.

Musician and writer Tracey Thorn, well known as half of Everything but the Girl, is author of the best-selling Bedsit Disco Queen and more recently Another Planet: A Teenager in Suburbia. Tracey will be in conversation with Hastings writer and actor Wayne Herbert.

TV presenters and best-selling authors Alice Roberts and Lucy Cooke are also taking part in the festival, which launched last year.

Alice, who is Professor of Public Engagement with Science at the University of Birmingham and has appeared on Time Team, Coast and Digging for Britain, will be talking about “the species that changed the world”.

Author and explorer Lucy, who grew up in Sussex, began her career in TV production and is a presenter of the BBC’s Springwatch, will be discussing “the unexpected truth about animals”.

“HASTINGS IS A NATURAL FOR A LITERARY FESTIVAL”
LitFest also includes a session by Dr Who writer Simon Guerrier, an author talk by MP Rachel Reeves on her new book Women of Westminster, and an enhanced programme of activities for children.

Sir David Hare, one of the greatest British post-war playwrights, is Hastings Literary Festival’s Patron. Sir David, who was born in St Leonards and grew up in Bexhill, says: “Hastings is a natural for a literary festival. In 2018, they got off to a flying start. I confidently expect the second edition in 2019 to be just as warm-hearted and exciting.”

As well as author talks, Hastings LitFest 2019 will feature panel discussions, workshops for budding authors – including a repeat of last year’s popular ‘meet the agent’ sessions – and lots of creative activities for children.

•Tickets are on sale online from April 20. Find out more, including details
of early bird savings, at: www.HastingsLitFest.org

VICKY ARMSTRONG

Nineteen weird and wonderful stories were entered for our recent science fiction short story competition, ably judged by Dr Who writer, Simon Guerrier. Simon praised the originality and breadth of subject matter of the entries. Results are as follows:

1st Mike Gould – Up There Far Away
2nd Sam Davey – The Last Elephant
3rd Dave Baker – Gaze Upon My Washing Up and Weep
4th Roz Balp – The Last Rabbit Hole

• If you are interested in joining the group please see our website for further details visit www.hastingswriters.co.uk

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