Welcome to the Dorchester Literary Festival

Our ninth Dorchester Literary Festival was our most successful ever with more than 5,000 people attending our main programme of events and many more enjoying the children’s and young adult line-up. Some brilliant writers joined us for this year’s festival and many events sold out: Headliners included Ray Mears, Robert Peston, Joanna Quinn, Damien Lewis, Tim Marshall, Justine Picardie, Alan Titchmarsh, Daniel Finkelstein, Tim Spector, Julia Bradbury, Louise Minchin, Cat Jarman and Lemn Sissay. Photos of some of them are shown below: thanks to Peter Yendell and Peter Downton for their brilliant images.

The aim, as ever, was to invite leading writers and thinkers for you to enjoy in the relaxed and beautiful setting of Dorset’s county town, in a diverse programme designed to entertain, inspire and enlighten you. If you came to some of our events we hope you enjoyed them and will come again in 2024, when we will celebrate our 10th anniversary. We will be starting work on the new programme in the New Year and keep you posted. Meanwhile please save the 2024 festival dates – 12th–19th October.

We look forward to seeing you in October 2024.

Janet Gleeson
Festival Director

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Testimonials for the 2023 festival

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Thanks so much for all you do. People have no concept of the enormous amount of work that goes on behind the scenes The Festival. really is getting noticeably better year on year. We can't wait for the 2024 10 year anniversary.

Hay on Wye and Cheltenham better watch out!!!

Caroline

Polly Toynbee and Ed Stourton have been favourite journalists of mine for decades and did not disappoint, nor did Kate Adie – a very astute interviewer who brought out the best in them while slipping in her own contributions.

It would be very difficult to think of ways to improve either of the events I attended. The venue was comfortable, the refreshments were a surprise and very tempting and everything ran exactly to time.

Margaret S

Congratulations on such a successful festival. What a lineup of authors! Your hard work is really appreciated and we look forward to next year. You obviously have a very loyal team behind you, they deserve our thanks also.

Jenny M

Just to let you know that I really enjoyed all seven of the events that I attended. It really stirred up my ageing brain. I look forward to next year's Festival.

Liz G

Everything I attended was excellent – thank you.

Lesley

I attended the Festival for the first time last Friday, for 3 of the speakers… Daniel Finkelstein, Tim Spector & Polly Toynbee. I was very impressed with all three.

I used to attend events at the Cheltenham Literary Festival, but found that gradually more & more T.V. ‘celebrities’ were being featured. The actual literary element seemed to me to be being watered down. So, it was refreshing to read the good spread of ‘literary’ content in your whole programme.

Jane F

Thank you for all your work. It was a great programme this year.

I went on the Hardys walking tour which was excellent – informative and entertaining (helped by the wonderful weather)…. And to Lemn Sissay – what a treat.

Susie M

I attended Angus Waycott’s talk on self publishing in the Museum. The talk was very informative and entertaining and the museum a lovely venue.

Maggie H

We attended about 6 events. All interesting and very well conducted. I think having someone like Kate or Michael to keep authors on topic is a good idea and worked well. Well done.

Roy B

We thoroughly enjoyed Julia Bradbury’s talk, what a wonderful speaker, so inspirational.

Susan A

An excellent festival!

Thank you and the team for organising. I only managed to attend four events but they were all incredibly informative and enlightening. A real range in diversity of themes and topics too.

Brilliant that this event was on my doorstep! I will certainly be booking again next year.

Maggie G

Michael and I loved the festival and were filled with enthusiasm by your speakers. You and Janet have added so much richness to the lives of the people of Dorset. We are looking forward to the 2024 festival.

Barbara

I thought that the talk we went to, on John Le Carre, was excellent. It was well organised, sound, and video was great. The interviewer was very good and the interviewee was interesting and entertaining. Keep up the good work and thank you for putting it on this year.

Joe

The festival was clearly a great success and a very successful partnership between each speaker and all the necessary organisational work.

Along with friends I look forward to 2024!

John H

Welcome to the Dorchester Literary Festival
12th–19th October 2024

Event photos from the amazing 2023 festival can be viewed here

Testimonials for the 2023 festival

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