A hugely popular Ayrshire book festival will be available for audiences from the comfort of their own home this year.
The Boswell Book Festival normally held in the stunning grounds of Dumfries House near Cumnock will instead go virtual with six days of planned talks.
The last year the unique festival which attracts hundreds of visitors was axed due to COVID-19 but this time round organisers are optimistic that their online edition will prove a hit.
Adapting to another year in lockdown, bosses at the festival have pulled out all the stops for a weekend of amazing content which will be available for free.
The Boswell Book Festival is the world’s only book festival dedicated to biography and memoir and will be streamed on a newly-launched website June 10 to June 16 for free.
Named in honour of Ayrshire’s James Boswell, the inventor of modern biography, director Caroline Knox is excited for a festival “without geographical boundaries”.
The new website has been launched today which will allow fans to register for events as they are announced.
So far, speakers already confirmed are Pulitzer prize-winning historian Fredrik Logevall, who will be talking about his acclaimed volume of former US president John F Kennedy’s early life.
Other speakers are Lady Anne Glenconner who, in conversation with Royal expert Hugo Vickers, will share her extraordinary life as revealed in her captivating memoir Lady In Waiting.
While Charlie Gilmour, adopted son of Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour, talks of father-son relationships, prison life and how a fledgling magpie saved him.
Each day will see a theme exploring different aspects of life writing including: diaries, letters, biographies and memories as well as new digital forms such as podcasts, YouTube and blogs.
Families will be able to enjoy the children’s festival from the comfort of their own home with the planned programme also running into the following week in schools.
Curated by former Edinburgh International Book Festival programme director Janet Smyth the performances, talks and workshops will tell the stories of inspiring lives, past and present, and explore ways for young audiences to find ways to tell their own stories.
Caroline said: “Without our unique setting of Dumfries House this year, our challenge is to make the Boswell Book Festival stand out as an original and exciting on-line festival to be enjoyed by everyone, far and wide.
“I’m optimistic that our supporters over the last decade will find much to enjoy in the programme and so too will those who for whatever reason have not been able to attend in previous years.”
“Please spread the word for what promises to be a standout Boswellian occasion and join us from your deckchair, kitchen table, sofa or even a café to take part in this life-writing bonanza.”
To encourage as wide an audience as possible, all talks will be free although the audience is asked to make a donation to help finance the festival, which is run by a charity. Registration is open on the Boswell Book Festival website at www.boswellbookfestival.co.uk
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