CREATIVE WRITING
Date: Friday 07 March 2008 - Sunday 16 March 2008
Venue: Mitchell Library
Category:
Aye Write! Bank of Scotland Book Festival 2008
The third annual Aye Write! Bank of Scotland Book Festival takes place between Friday 7 and Saturday 15 March 2008.
The full programme, ticket hotline and Web site was launched on Saturday 19 January 2008. Go to www.ayewrite.com for full details and to sign up for E-news.
Special offer for students and staff at Glasgow University
Glasgow's annual book festival, Aye Write!, sponsored by the Bank of Scotland, the Herald and the University of Glasgow, returns 7-15 March with the usual wide range of authors and debates. Highlights include an evening with Hollywood star Kathleen Turner, an afternoon with Gerry Anderson of Thunderbirds fame (with lots of clips), a session on the philosophy of Monty Python with philosopher Julian Baggini, Roddy Woomble discussing his experiences of being in a band, a celebration with cast and crew of 25 years of Taggart and debates on climate change and the legacy of the 1960s.
Thanks to sponsorship students and staff of the University of Glasgow are eligible for free tickets to two debates. There is limited availability for these tickets and they will be distributed on a first come first serve basis. Any tickets not collected one hour before the event may be released. Details are:
11 March 2008 19.30-21.00
Sir David King, Sarah Hall and Mark Lynas on climate change
13 March 2008 19.30-21.00
The sixties and the legacy of idealism with Andrew Anthony, Neal Ascherson, Stuart Christie, Peter Doggett, Sheila Rowbotham, Peter Tatchell, Mike Gonzalez
Tickets for the two free events must be booked in person at The Mitchell Library (open 09.00-20.00 Monday to Thursday and 09.00-17.00 Friday and Saturday). To collect a free ticket you need to present an ID card which states that you are a student or member of staff at the University of Glasgow. Further details of all events are at www.ayewrite.com.
The University is heavily involved in this year's Aye Write! There's a lot to see for all students and staff including the following:
Glasgow and Scottish Writers
Glasgow writers feature strongly with Anne Donovan, Iain M Banks, Ken Macleod, Louise Welsh, Janice Galloway, Christopher Brookmyre, Denise Mina, Laura Marney, Zoe Stachan, Alasdair Gray, Laura Hird and Agnes Owens all taking part. There will also be a celebration of Archie Hind, author of the classic Glasgow novel, The Dear Green Place.
International authors
Authors appearing include Louis de Bernieres, author of Captain Correlli's Mandolin, Tony Parsons, Helen Dunmore, Justine Picardie, Hanif Kureishi, Joanne Harris, Val McDermid, Michael Bracewell, Lavinia Greenlaw, Will Self and Blake Morrison.
Politics, economics and history
Aye Write looks at the legacy that Tony Blair has left both in fiction and fact with broadcaster and independent MP Martin Bell; looks at Scottish independence with Murray Pittock; assesses the threat of climate change with former Chief Scientific Adviser to the British Government Sir David King and Mark Lynas; looks at Iraq with Paddy Ashdown; examines the truth of contemporary media and the Internet with Nick Davies, author of Flat Earth News; Harriet Lamb from the Fair Trade Foundation talks about the success of their campaign; and John Gray, one of our leading intellectuals, looks at current debates in politics and religion. Asne Seierstad looks at Grozny, David Kynaston and Lynsey Hanley look at post war Britain, and Tim Harford provides a guide to contemporary economics. Menzies Campbell will talk about his autobiography. In a special debate, Dame Helena Kennedy, Clive Stafford Smith and A C Grayling look at crime, punishment and current attacks on liberty.
Philosophy and religion
A C Grayling makes another appearance in a debate about God with John Cornwell; the work of Oliver James is assessed with the man himself on affluenza and the selfish capitalist; Terry Eagleton makes an appearance to discuss the meaning of life; and Julian Baginni follows last year's philosophy of the Simpsons by looking at the philosophy of Monty Python.
Music and writing
Roddy Woomble makes an appearance to discuss writing about music and being in a band; James Naughtie looks at music in his life and there's a rare appearance by Louis de Bernieres playing music. We also look at sixties music with the great music producer Joe Boyd.
Poetry
Poetry once again makes a major appearance with Ruth Padel, David Kinloch, Robert Crawford, Kei Miller, Michael Schmidt, Donny O’Rourke and a special evening devoted to Edwin Morgan.
