The North London Literary Festival

North London Literary Festival
Student organisers, Middlesex University
Date(s)16 March 2017
Ends1 day event
FrequencyAnnually
VenueHendon Campus, College Building
Location(s)Middlesex University
CountryLondon
Years active1996-present
Inaugurated1996
FounderSue Gee
Most recent13 March 2018
Previous event23–24 March 2015
AreaHendon, London
LeaderChris Callow Jr.
SponsorMiddlesex University
Websitenorthlondonlitfest.com

The North London Literary Festival is an annual event held at Middlesex University and the surrounding areas of North London.[1] The event is student-led in order for them to gain key experience, and the festival is free to access for students and the public.[2]

History

Running annually since 1996,[3] the festival aims to celebrate literary works through pop-up readings by students around North London, as well as guest speakers and workshops at the Hendon campus of Middlesex University.[4]

Speakers

Previous speakers include Justin Cartwright, Philip Hensher, AL Kennedy, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Andrea Levy, Andrew Motion, Jan Pienkowski, Lord Puttnam and Fay Weldon.

Notable speakers include: David Nicholls, author of One Day and Galaxy Book of the Year winner,[5] in 2014, and Dame Professor Carol Ann Duffy in 2015. In 2013, the festival secured a reading from horror novelist, James Herbert.[6] Noted as a ‘rare appearance’,[7] Herbert was set to discuss his latest work but unexpectedly died before the event.

The main three-day event is held in late March or early April each year. Aside from a number of notable speakers, the festival typically includes fiction and screen writing workshops, book signings and competitions.

References

  1. ^ "Middlesex University: North London Literary Festival". Middlesex University. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  2. ^ "The North London Literary Festival is a student-run festival supervised this year by Lecturer Sarah Wardle that takes place on 23rd, 24th and 25th of March 2015". The North London Literary Festival. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  3. ^ "North London Literary Festival". Culture24.org. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  4. ^ Reynolds, Laura. "North London Literary Festival Brings Free Events To Hendon". Londonist. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  5. ^ "Galaxy National Book Award for Book of the Year (2011)". Goodreads.com. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  6. ^ "North London Literary Festival 2013". Middlesex University. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  7. ^ Knott, George. "British master of horror James Herbert makes a rare appearance at the North London Literary Festival in Hendon". Ealing Times. Retrieved 21 April 2015.