NOVELIST MAVIS CHEEK LAUNCHES MARLBOROUGH’S FIRST LITERARY FESTIVAL

By Gerald Isaaman

A new literary festival with a difference – it bans celebrity books and those composed by ghost writers in favour of real literature – is to be held in the historic market town of Marlborough, Wiltshire, in September.

It is the creation of bestselling local novelist Mavis Creek and follows the inspiration of the Marlborough Jazz Festival originated by Nicholas Fogg, the current mayor of Marlborough, and will run initially for three days in September.

Those taking part in 15 events will include Lynn Barber, whose memoirs were made into the award-winning film An Education, novelist Margaret Drabble, whose latest book tells the story of the Jigsaw, and Sir John Mortimer’s biographer Valerie Grove.

“There is going to be something for everyone – biography, adult fictions, teenage and children’s fiction, autobiography and poetry by some of the best British writers, in wonderful venues,” Mavis Cheek told a mayoral launch reception at Marlborough Town Hall last Friday.

“And the reason that we started this festival is that we wanted to celebrate really good writing, proper literature again. So there will be no celebrity publishing and there will be no ghosted books in this festival.

“We’re committed to literature and putting writing, rather than celebrity, first. In a world where mass media prevails, it’s easy to overlook the value of the well written words in all its forms, and the importance of those that write.

“It is writers, be they novelists, poets, playwrights, scriptwriters, journalists or biographers who record our world and shape our culture. Without them there would be no content for mass media.”

She added: “I can’t think how this wonderful market town has existed for so long without a literary festival. It seems particularly daft to me considering all of Marlborough’s literary connections – Siegfried Sassoon, William Golding, John Betjeman and the wonderful Bruce Chatwin.

“We are going to continue the tradition of having great writers come here. And I hope you will agree that is a really fine premise on which to found this festival.”

Founding sponsors of the festival – it runs from September 24 to September 26 – are ALCS, the society which protects and promotes authors’ right, plus local sponsors investment managers Brewin Dolphin and Hiscox Insurance.

For full details of the festival programme see www.marlboroughlitfest.co.uk . Tickets will be available in June.