Prepare to be immersed in four days of Welsh literary splendour, as the Llansteffan Literary Festival takes place this June.
With the festival opening on June 8, an exhibition of famous writers associated with this historic village will be a sure-fire draw to literary and historical enthusiasts alike. Glyn Jones, Lynette Roberts and Dylan Thomas are some of the poets and novelists featured in this exhibition. Hosted by local historian Diana Bevan, readings of their works are included before the launch of Peter J. Jones’s new poetry collection A Fox in the Yard; what better way to begin celebrating Llansteffan and its literary heritage?
To truly celebrate Llansteffan and its rich history, you must see Llansteffan too. Saturday features a bus tour hosted by Peter J. Jones, where we will explore the hidden literary secrets of Llansteffan. Booking is essential, as it features not only work by Lynette Roberts and Glyn Jones, but a rare visit to the courtyard of Fernhill and Blaencwm, a must-see for Dylan Thomas fans, and refreshments between outings and upon return. Anyone who loves Welsh literature, or just a fascinating day out, will find something to enjoy here!
Friday begins with Dai Smith (CBE) discussing his fiction, and his transition from historian to author. Dai is followed by a showcase from the children of Llansteffan School, who will be putting their own creative talents on display.
The astounding India Wales event takes place on Friday evening, the fruition of a yearlong project between Indian and Welsh writers. Introduced by Gary Raymond, the event features a panel of authors, such as our very own Natalie Ann Holborow and Siôn Tomos Owen and collaborators Srijato Bandopadhyay and Aniesha Brahma. The evening ends with an illustrated talk from Hilly Janes and John Goodby, featuring photos from the book Ugly, Lovely by Janes’ aunt Ethel Ross, a contemporary and friend of ‘Welsh son’ Dylan Thomas.
To close a wonderful weekend of literature, Boyd Clack discusses his work on Saturday evening, and we have ‘Thirteen Poems of Llansteffan’ on Sunday morning, featuring readings from some of the very best of Llansteffan writing. Still want more? Siôn Tomos Owen and Natalie Ann Holborow will be working with Llansteffan School all week, and there’s a special event for kids, featuring readings from Eloise Williams and her books Elen’s Island and Gaslight, and Huw Davies’s Scrambled. Plus, Dylan’s Mobile Bookstore will be parking up on Saturday and Sunday to offer a selection of rare books for you to purchase.
All of this and more will be available at the Llansteffan Literary Festival from June 8-11. We promise a weekend to remember, and we intend to keep that promise.
What a response! The Outing tours have now been fully booked. We are looking forward to 4 wonderful days full of literature and talent.
Do you have a question about the Llansteffan Literary Festival? Enquire at 01792 606605 or 01267 241057.
