The Words by the Water literature festival is set to return to Keswick next month following a two-year hiatus.
It brings with it a glittering line-up of authors from across the country to the Theatre by the Lake to celebrate books and ideas and the 21st festival.
“We are delighted, and relieved, to be back in Keswick,” said Leah Varnell, general manager of Words by the Water.
“The last time we were here it was right at the start of the pandemic. We’ve been working through a tough time, like so many organisations: the lack of certainly has been a huge challenge.
‘’But having such excellent speakers in our programme, and knowing how excited people are that the festival is back, is a huge boost. We can’t wait to welcome writers and festival-goers back to Theatre by the Lake.”
The festival’s president Melvyn Bragg is also thrilled to see the festival return.
“Keswick seems made to be the centre of a Lake District literary gathering, as so often in the past the Lake District has been at the centre of literature,’’ he said.
“I’m sure that the audiences we’ve gathered over the last 21 years, and many who are new to the festival, will come to be part of this revival.”
The festival will be a little shorter than previous years, with fewer events each day to allow for Covid safety measures, but the programme of 56 events features award-winning and best-selling writers across fiction and non-fiction and covers all manner of subjects.
From science, nature and ecology to history, philosophy, economics and politics there is, as ever, something for everyone.
Fiction and poetry writers in the line-up include crime-fiction royalty Val McDermid and Ann Cleeves, the Cumbrian Man Booker Prize short-listed author Sarah Hall, and Sunday Times best-selling author Frank Gardner.
And an evening with the prolific poet Roger McGough is set to be a particularly special event.
The wonders of the natural world, both around the world and in Cumbria, are celebrated by ornithologist Tim Birkhead, ecologist and manager for RSPB Haweswater Lee Schofield, and champion of butterflies and moths Matthew Oates.
Festival visitors can explore the past with renowned historians Alison Weir, Jenny Uglow, Franny Moyle, Laura Thompson and Irving Finkel, and archaeologist Francis Pryor.
Those with an interest in politics can discover more about the leaders who never were with political columnist Steve Richards and gain an insight into the world of Theresa May with her former Chief of Staff, Gavin Barwell.
Former MP and leader of the Liberal Democrats, Vince Cable, explains how politicians chance the fortunes of their voters with economics, Paul Mason dissects the rise of fascism, Guardian journalist Luke Harding and former Secretary of State David Owen both explore the relationship between Russia and the West.
Radio 4 host Justin Webb joins the festival to discuss his memoir and Rory Cellan-Jones weighs up the pros and cons of the smartphone era.
Journalist and podcaster Viv Groskop will explore the complexities of ambition for women. Comedian and science communicator Robin Ince argues why we should all be interested in science and will also explore wonders of evolutionary biology and also giving talks are National Geographic explorer Lucy Cooke and pioneering psychologist Brian Butterworth.
The festival marks the beginning of a new era with another addition to the team.
Melvyn Bragg will be joined as a co-president by his daughter, the writer Marie-Elsa Bragg
Words by the Water will be at Theatre by the Lake from Tuesday, March 15 to Sunday March 20.
Members of Friends of Theatre by the Lake, and Friends of Ways With Words can book tickets immediately by calling 017687 74411.
General booking opened today.
