The Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival is more than just a gathering of authors and readers, it is a vital celebration dedicated to the enduring power of the written word. The festival brings together a diverse array of voices from celebrated novelists and thought-provoking historians, to emerging poets and beloved children’s authors, all of whom are a testament to the importance of the printed word. It is here, in the heart of Yorkshire, that the stories written on the page leap into lively conversation and debate. Thereby, reminding us that the art of writing and joys of reading remain fundamental to our culture.
The festival is organised by the charitable organisation Harrogate International Festivals, who have a long and rich history in the spa town dating back to 1966.
The charitable organisation relies on the funding of ticket sales, sponsorships and donations. In 2012, Raworths Solicitors celebrated their 125th anniversary by sponsoring the literature festival. There was an appearance by BBC newsreader Sophie Raworth, the great-granddaughter of founding member Edwin Raworth.
It has been described as ‘One of the UK’s best Literary Festivals’ by Harper’s Bazaar and ‘One of the Top 3 Literary Festivals in the UK’ by The Guardian. This year’s festival, including the popular Children’s festival, running from 9 to 19 October, promises to be one of excellent quality and variety, with something for everyone. Some of the names involved in the festival include historian Dr Kate Vigurs, former Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, cricketer Graham Gooch and Chris Tarrant, to name a few.
We were lucky enough to correspond with Harrogate native Dr Kate Vigurs, who we would like to thank for her time, and who had the following comments:
On the festival itself:
“Harrogate Literary festival is amongst the finest in the country, it offers such a diverse range of speakers and shows that books can be about anything and be relevant to anyone. Be they fiction, non-fiction, fantasy…we all deserve to be uplifted and inspired and in show casing the variety of work out there this festival does just that.”
On her involvement in the festival:
“I am thrilled to have been asked back to the festival with my new book ‘Mission Europe’. I am from Harrogate and it is wonderful to come home and share my knowledge and more importantly my passion for my subject (secret agents in the Second World War) and to hopefully give people a taster of these wonderful (and not so wonderful) women. My aim is to give people role models who then learn about and aspire to.”
On the importance of keeping history alive:
“I am dedicated to keeping history alive and have done this my entire career – from performance work as women for the past such as Empress Matilda, Florence Nightingale and even Queen Victoria, to historical horse shows and now as an author. It is more important than ever that we learn from the past – that we give equal sway to the men and women who secured the world and freedoms that we now enjoy, and that we learn from their mistakes so as to never repeat them. This is, of course idealistic but why not try?”
The Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival is therefore an important event in the literary calendar, with a diverse range of voices to inspire and entertain fellow writers, those who want to learn, and those on the hunt for their next read.
Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival, The Crown Hotel, Harrogate, October 9-19.
Tickets available via Harrogate International Festivals website at www.harrogateinternationalfestivals.com or by calling the Box Office on 01423 562 303.
