First days of Hay 2008

The town of Hay-on-Wye at dawn Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

Streets await the hordes of book lovers at this year's literary festival Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

A brass band marches down the town's main street Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

Bookshops of every kind abound in Hay Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

A secondhand bookshop displays its wares along the walls of the castle courtyard ... Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

... which is fine as long as the rain keeps off Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

Classic titles on sale in a secondhand bookshop Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

Books may not be displayed to best advantage Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

Several bookshops run sidelines, such as pot plants Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

The festival bookshop, which carries copies of the speakers' books Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

The view from Hay castle Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian