#nnwf

The new season of literary festivals is upon us already and there are several happening locally in March...

The UEA SPRING LITERARY FESTIVAL got underway on February 8.  For details of events running until June 7 and featuring authors such as Andrea Levy, A.C. Grayling, Edmund De Waal, Jo Shapcott and Ali Smith, check here: http://www.uea.ac.uk/litfest

Not Norfolk, but not a million miles away either, the ALDEBURGH LITERARY FESTIVAL will be held between March 4-6 and features a variety of distinguished writers -- Paul Bailey, A.N. Wilson, Mary Chamberlain and many others.  For details, go here: http://www.aldeburghbookshop.co.uk/page/tenth-aldeburgh-festival-programme

And, if you head north a week later, you can hear readings by local luminaries such as D.J. Taylor, Rachel Hore, Christopher Bigsby and Sophie Hannah at the KING'S LYNN FICTION FESTIVAL that takes place between March 11 and 13.  For more details: http://www.lynnlitfests.com/

My guest on the NNWF this month is Patrick Barkham who will be talking about his book The Butterfly Isles:  A Summer in Search of our Emperors and Admirals.  On one level, the book is the account of Patrick's year-long quest to see all 59 species of butterfly that are found in Britain. It is a treasure trove of fascinating detail about butterflies, butterfly collecting, and butterfly lore.  But it contains so much more.  It is also an understated and affectionate memoir of Patrick's relationship with his father. And it is an eloquent, urgent (though never strident) call for us all to notice the beauty of the natural world around us and to conserve what we have left of it.

I will be talking to Patrick Barkham on the NNWF on Sunday, February 27.  Join me then....