New Worlds
Only a month to go until internationally best-selling author Lionel Shriver ‘hot-foots it’ from Hay Festival to Essex Book Festival. Lionel will be talking about her latest book Mania at Anglia Ruskin University [Chelmsford] on 31st May.
Set in a parallel yet all too familiar near past, Mania tracks the twists and turns of a lifelong friendship threatened by the Culture Wars. A ‘brave, new world’ where the Mental Parity movement has taken hold and where Americans embrace the sacred, universal truth that there is no such thing as variable human intelligence. With The Times describing the book as ‘viciously funny’ and ‘an exhilarating satire’ and John Cleese reflecting, ‘Seldom is a book as funny, important and timely… I was laughing out loud at the same time as my blood was running cold’, make sure you don’t miss this one.
Talking of ‘New Worlds’, nothing could be more timely in a general election year than an evening in the company with The Guardian’s own satirist John Crace. John will be appearing at Anglia Ruskin University on Friday 14th June where he will be discussing his latest book Depraved New World: a blisteringly hilarious tour through the whirlwind of post-Brexit Britain. Given the current political climate we are expecting this to be a busy event so get booking now!
Not That I’m Bitter
Have we mentioned that Helen Lederer is going to be talking to Festival Director Ros Green about her hilarious memoir Not That I’m Bitter as part of our special 25th Edition? In fact, the book is so funny that Ros found herself ducking ‘evil stares’ as she tucked into Helen’s early childhood in a local café and couldn’t stop laughing. This is an absolute must for any Absolutely Fabulous aficionados.
The Tasting Menu
As part our special Launch Day on Saturday 1st June which is being hosted at the University of Essex, we are pleased to share details of a very special event: The Tasting Menu, an open mic event where you can hear headline poets Holly Pester and Jordan Savage, student voices, and share and explore all things Essex poetry. Everybody’s welcome to perform but you need to arrive early to book your place.
