Book Now Literature Festival

On Thin Ice adventurers Ben Fogle and James Cracknell, writer Martin Amis and Booker Prize winner AS Byatt are just some of the speakers in store at the Book Now Literary Festival which returns to Richmond this November for its eighteenth year. Lynn Barber may not be appearing (after a fuming row about not showing a picture of her smoking) but the list of confirmed participants includes an impressive line-up of political commentators, well known writers, broadcasters, comedians and poets. There's a huge variety of respected writers and novelists taking part so it won't be hard to pick out at least one you'd like to see. Turner Prize winning potter Grayson Perry will appeal to the artistic types while BBC Newsnight presenter Gavin Esler reveals what it's like to interview the most influential politicians of our time. Comedian and Trigger Happy TV star Dom Joly appears as does The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas author John Boyle who is joined by Claire Kilroy to talk about his new novel The House of Special Purpose. Events talk place at various venues across Richmond and throughout November. See www.richmond.gov.uk for full details and a to download a brochure.