The fifteen events this year covered a wide range of literary interests with top-class speakers and special events,
such as the Literary Lunch and the Weald Literary Walk, now firm fixtures in the festival calendar. Nearly all
the talks attracted capacity audiences.
This year's Sevenoaks Literary Celebration closed
on a high note when one of the final speakers, Hilary Mantel, was awarded the 2009 Man Booker Prize for her novel Wolf
Hall. Click on the link below to see a clip of her performing at the Stag Community Arts Centre.
The photos below show all this year's speakers in
action.
Andrew Motion opened the festival at the Ship Theatre with a talk about The Cinder Path, his latest volume
of poetry.
Carys
Davies and Vanessa Gebbie shared their favourite books and discussed the art of the short story at the Book Groups Tea, held
at Bradbourne School.
Shena Mackay shared her recollections of
Shoreham in the 1950s at a talk held in St Nicholas Undercroft.
Sarah Wise told the story of 'the Old Nichol', Victorian London's most notorious slum.
Actor
and author, Ian Kelly, talked about the culinary skills of Casanova.
John
Julius Norwich was guest speaker at the Literary Lunch held at St Julian's Club
.
Professor
David Nokes and Karin Fernald spoke about Samuel Johnson's relationship with his wife, Tetty, and Mrs Piozzi, Johnson's
beloved Hester Thrale.
Children's
writer Ian Whybrow with his young audience.
Christopher
Lloyd talked about the journey through the story of life.
Hilary Mantel talked
about Thomas Cromwell, the inspiration for her prize winning novel Wolf Hall.
Gilly
Moysey led the annual Weald Walk, which includes a visit to Long Barn and a delicious home-baked tea.
Andrew
Taylor & Laura Wilson, crime writers, revealed the secrets of their craft.
.
Lance
Pierson talked about the life and poetry of John Betjeman.
Patrick
Gale told the audience about his new novel The Whole Day Through and signed books after the event.
