Taunton Literary Festival 2012: What's on and where

Taunton Literary Festival starts tomorrow and there is a wide array of activities for local bookworms to attend.

Over 40 well-known authors are taking part in the literary fair, giving talks and book signings in numerous venues across Taunton.

The week-long event is a celebration of literature and it gives adults and children alike the chance to enjoy and perhaps re-kindle their love of reading.

Many of the venues are Taunton schools and colleges so this is the perfect opportunity to get your child stuck into reading.

Below are highlights of the fair for those who are interested in attending. Tickets for all the events can be bought from Brendan books for £6.50 unless stated otherwise.

Saturday 22 September – The Castle Hotel, Castle Green:

Alexander Waugh, son of the infamous satirist Auberon Waugh will be presenting a recent collection of his father's works; Kiss Me Chudleigh: The World According to Auberon Waugh at 4 pm.

Auberon Waugh is widely acclaimed has been described as being "a master of the art of going too far". 

The book his son will be presenting is not only a collection of his finest satirical works but it is also a compact biography, consisting of excerpts from his literature he has written for the likes of Private Eye, the Spectator and the Daily Telegraph.

Unless sold out, those who attend will have the opportunity to join Alexander Waugh for tea after the talk and signing for the cost of £20. For this option you must contact the Castle Hotel on 01823 272671.

Sunday 23rd - Hestercombe Gardens, Cheddon Fitzpain:

Former Literary Editor for the Sunday Telegraph and feature writer for the Independent, Duff Hart-Davis will be presenting and signing his book Man of War at 6pm.

Mr Hart-Davis has had exclusive access to the family archive of Captain Alan Hillgarth who survived numerous adventures in World War One only to become became an author of thrillers, a gold-hunter in South America, a diplomat and a spy-master… among other exhilarating careers.

Monday 24th – Taunton School:

Award winning author Chris Ewan will be talking about his most recent thriller, Safe House, at 2pm. Mr Ewan was born in Taunton and attended the Castle School and Richard Huish college before leaving for University.

Four of his previous novels, in his Good Thief's guide mystery series, have won awards and in 2011 he was voted one of America's favourite British Authors in a Huffington Post poll.

Schools can attend this talk for a reduced price of £2.50.

Wednesday 26th – Queen's College, Taunton:

Award winning novelist Helen Dunmore will be taking you on a charmed journey through her fantasy novel Stormswept at 4.30 pm.

This charming adventure is about twins Morveren and Jenna living on an island off the coast of Cornwall who meet an enigmatic teenage Mer boy after a storm. Morveren flings herself into the path of adventure rescuing the boy but Jenna refuses to face the truth of his origins.

Helen has won both fiction and poetry awards and was shortlisted for the T.S. Eliot Prize. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. (Schools cost £2.50)

Saturday 29th – The Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton:

Co-Founder and Honorary Director of the highly regarded Orange Prize for Fiction, Kate Mosse, will be talking about the second novel in her Languedoc Trilogy, Citadel, at 8 pm.

Kate is a regular guest on BBC Breakfast and The Review Show, is a well-known campaigner for literacy and regularly judges writing and literary arts at both national and local levels.

This is an excellent opportunity to meet the literary genius and have a chat about her new novel as Citadel has yet to be published.

The price for this event will cost £12.

There are events on every day during the Taunton Literary fair, for full listings visit the Taunton Literary Festival website.