Plymouth International Book Festival

Film: Freaky Friday (1976)

Wouldn't it be nice if someone could switch places with you and know exactly how you feel?

In Disney's 1976 film Freaky Friday, that's exactly what happens: a power struggling mother and daughter magically switch places when they both wish the other to walk in her shoes for a day.

Teenage troublemaker Annabel suddenly has to deal with the challenges of running a household while mother Ellen is back in junior high!

This is a Disney classic that stands the test of time and has been specially chosen by Lauren Child, Children’s Laureate.

Director...

Chez Paulette Coffee House

Following the success of Chez Paulette on the Sunset Strip in 2013, we are delighted that it returns as part of this year’s Plymouth International Book Festival.

Artist and Plymouth University Fine Art lecturer Anya Lewin commissioned a replica of her father’s 1950s coffee house in the form of a film set that references the American TV show ’77 Sunset Strip’ which also featured a set of the original Chez Paulette cafe.

Operating as a fully functioning coffee bar throughout the festival, it is the perfect venue for you to enjoy fine coffee, listen to poetry and readings, and...

Poemetrics Film Screening

Part of Plymouth International Book Festival

An entertaining evening of short films looking at a range of expressive moving image work inspired by poetry. Be inspired by a visual investigation of words in poetic motion which enrich meaning and enhance your understanding.

The programme is both surprising and beautiful featuring artists such as David Alexander Anderson, Adam Long, Lesley Barnes, Andy Martin, Matt Lambert, Tony Comley, Alex Weil, Salomon, Crush, Michael Fragstein, Mark Nute, Daniel Boyle, Mario Pietro Brioschi, Scott Wenner, Jaeho Hwang,...

Illustrating Pride and Prejudice for a late Victorian mass market

Part of Plymouth International Book Festival

A must for fans of Pride and Prejudice, this talk examines the beautifully detailed character illustrations in John Dicks’ 1887 edition of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and looks at how they tell us much about how Austen’s novel was read in the late 19th century when there was a huge rise in demand for affordable books.

Readers would sometimes have to wait for decades for an affordable edition of a book to be released following the first expensive edition only which only the rich, upper-classes could afford...

What I Did by Christopher Wakling

Part of Plymouth International Book Festival

Christopher Wakling, acclaimed author and travel writer for the Independent, joins readers to talk about his most recent novel.

What I Did is the chronicle of a family crisis that is in equal parts hilarious, poignant, and horrifying, told in the singular voice of a most precocious youngster.

“The novel that should have won the Booker prize” - London Daily Mail

Writing Society - Suzi Feay and Helen Dunmore

Part of Plymouth International Book Festival

Exploring the work of novelists such as Jane Austen, Elizabeth Gaskell, George Eliot, and the Bronte sisters, this lively panel discussion with Helen Dunmore and Suzi Feay will address issues surrounding women as writers and social commentators. Considering how these women changed the literary landscape of the time and continue to influence writers today, this promises to be both an entertaining discussion, and a celebration of some truly inspiring writers. This event will be chaired by writer and academic, Min Wild...

Live & Loud 4: Inua Ellams

Part of Plymouth International Book Festival

A truly imaginative and stylish voice on the spoken word scene, Inua Ellams is an accomplished writer and performer. As a poet, performer, playwright and graphic artist he provides a perfect fusion of lyricism and performance.

Author of the best-selling poetry pamphlet, Thirteen Fairy Negro Tales, Inua has worked in venues which include Queen Elizabeth Hall, Tate Britain, Theatre Royal Stratford and Glastonbury Festival. He has also undertaken several commissions, including those for Tate Modern, Soho Theatre...

Writing Workshop with Christopher Wakling

Part of Plymouth International Book Festival

Acclaimed novelist and writing tutor Chris Wakling will provide expert advice for those working on a novel.

Chris is one of the leading tutors of creative writing at the Arvon Foundation. He is the Royal Literary Fund Fellow for Writing at The University of Bristol and has led workshops in numerous secondary schools including St Paul’s Girls’ School, North London Collegiate, Guildford Girls’ School and Bristol Metropolitan Academy.

£12

Live & Loud 3: Linton Kwesi Johnson

Part of Plymouth International Book Festival

Join world-renowned poet and recording artist Linton Kwesi Johnson for an hour of his remarkable poetry, followed by a Q & A with the audience.

Author of Voices of the Living and the Dead, Dread, Beat An' Blood and Tings An' Times: Selected Poems, Johnson’s poetry is mostly political, dealing with the experiences of black, working class life in Britain. In 2002 he became the second living poet, and the only black poet to be published in the Penguin Modern Classics series.

In 2005 Linton was awarded...

House of Small Shadows by Adam Nevill

Part of Plymouth International Book Week

Adam Nevill has been a devotee of the supernatural in fiction since his father read him M R James at bedtime. As well as The Ritual and Apartment 16, Adam is the author of the occult thriller Banquet of the Damned. He will be in conversation as he talks about his latest book, House of Small Shadows.

When the late M. H. Mason’s elderly niece invites Catherine to stay at Red House to catalogue his wildly eccentric collection of antique dolls and puppets, she can’t believe her luck. Until his niece exposes her to the...

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