This year’s Shell Chester Literature Festival was a huge success with over 4,500 people attending events throughout the two weeks.

Carol Ann Duffy, the first female poet laureate opened the festival on Monday 5^th October to a sell out crowd and Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall, who sold out within 3 hours of tickets going on sale, closed the festival on Sunday 18^th October.

The festival welcomed many exciting and inspiring authors and novelists throughout the fortnight. The Friends of the Literature Festival event ‘Behind the Scenes with Novelist Kate Atkinson’ was quick to sell out and now we know why; Kate gave a rare opportunity for the audience to understand her thought process behind writing her novels.  David Peace, author of The Damned United and The Red Riding Series gave the audience an insight into how he writes his challenging novels.  David Whitley, local born author, thrilled all those who joined him for his candle lit evening in the cathedral where he talked about his first book The Midnight Charter.

The festival also presented actors and theatre directors. Actress Rohan McCullough provided an emotional and stunning one woman show based on Vera Brittain’s haunting autobiography Testament of Youth; and Sir Richard Eyre delighted a sold out audience at the Grosvenor Museum, talking all things theatre and explained the impressive progressions throughout his successful career.

The wide ranging programme offered something for almost everyone, it explored the wider worlds of literary biography with Professor David Nokes; it touched onhistory with Allan Mallinson who visited the festival to give an interesting, historical account of the British Army; it covered travel and adventure through Alistair Humphreys who inspired and fascinated his sell out audience as he discussed the four years of his life when he cycled around the world; it provided politics at the Festival Dinner with guest speaker Paddy Ashdown; it boasted an appearance by lawyer Michael Mansfield, QC who provided a mind blowing lecture as a part of the weekend’s programme; which was followed by wildlife with Chris Packham of BBC Autumnwatch fame presenting his beautiful and awe-inspiring photography from his adventures around the world.

Chester Oyez! weaved a thread through the festival culminating in two Saturdays crammed with live performance by professionals and talented amateurs. On Saturday 10^th there were circus themed events for young and old, including stories, music and poetry; and on Saturday 17^th creative workshops for budding poets and writers provided fun and learning for all; Chester Oyez! came to a close with master storytellers Hugh Lupton and Nick Hennessey telling, playing and singing their tales of Robin Hood and the English radicals.

The lunchtime series at Oddfellows was this year’s principal innovation. The atmospheric city centre venue featured Fresh Fiction (new novelists) which turned out to be a huge success… these inspiring novelists delighted audiences with their new writing and gave an insight into the trials and tribulations of starting out in the world of writing and getting published. Remember, you saw these novelists in Chester first! And we hope to be able to invite them back in future years, when they are not so new to the literary world!

Now the festival has finished planning will start for next year’s event, so keep visiting the web site for updates, www.chesterfestivals.co.uk

If you can’t wait for the festival next year then why not think about joining The Friends of the Literature Festival who share an enthusiasm for literature and have a programme throughout the year, offering members events and outings all with a literary focus. In the lead up the Shell Chester Literature Festival friends receive advanced information and priority booking, making sure you get those tickets early. To find out more or to join please email the chairman Gwen Cleverly friends@chesterlitfest.org

View an online version of the 2009 Shell Chester Literature Festival brochure