Festivalising

    In the midst of writing tomorrow's CBG post on My Cousin Rachel, it occurred to me that the Daphne du Maurier Festival is currently on in Cornwall. A quick look at the programme shows me that had we been there earlier in the week we could have gone on the My Cousin Rachel guided walk (with cream tea!), and tomorrow we could attend a performance of the dramatised version of the book.

   My question today is prompted by that festival but is by no means a negative comment on it or any other: are we reaching festival overload? Are there now just too many literary events here in Britain? They do seem to be proliferating (there are apparently over 100 on this list), and while it is lovely for people in all parts of the country to have the chance to see a favourite author in conversation about their work or giving a reading or a masterclass, is their very ubiquity making them commonplace, and not the draw they once were? Is there still room for more, and do writers welcome these chances to meet their readership and promote their books, or has it become a never-ending circuit round which they wish they didn't have to tread? By the way, I speak as one who lives on the doorstep of the biggest (and best?!) book festival in the world and I've attended probably hundreds of its events over the years, so 'I'm alright Jack', but any thoughts on this generally?

Edited to add: here's Michael Holroyd's view.

Comments

[Ros]

I have never been to a literary festival and I can't imagine ever wanting to. I really loathe the sort of self-promotion that seems to go on at these things. If I want critical reviews or interviews with authors, it's easy enough to find them on the radio or online. If I want to buy books, I don't seem to have any problem doing that from the comfort of my own home, either!

What I have been to and enjoyed are literary conferences. Most recently I went to a Georgette Heyer day at Lucy Cavendish College in Cambridge. Some really interesting papers (some more scholarly than others) and a good chance to meet other fans and think a bit more about books that I love.

[Julie Fredericksen]

There may be too many of these events in England, but certainly not enough in America, and definitely not where I live. For example, the Brooklyn Botanical Garden and the Poetry Society of America are hosting an Emily Dickinson exhibit through June 13 (in her lifetime, Dickinson was more well known for her gardens than her poems). I would love to see it but it is out of the question for me. I posted about it on my regular (not book) blog yesterday - www.celticanamcara.blogspot.com

[adele geras]

Well, I love literary festivals, both as a writer and as a reader. I like the chance of meeting people and other writers and yes, Ros, I do enjoy the self-promotion, I can't deny it! But I like going to them to hear people speak as well and wish I could get to more. Edinburgh has to be the best, I reckon and Cheltenham is also terrific. I've never been invited to Hay on Wye so can't speak about that, but we have a Festival in Manchester now which pleases me greatly. I suppose there are too many of them but as Mae West famously said: too much of a good thing can be wonderful.

[Dark Puss]

I've never been to one and have never wished to attend one either; probably that is because I am not particularly interested in the processes by which a book came into being. I might be tempted to hear poems read aloud, but I'm not convinced that the poet is necessarily the best person to perform their own work. Certainly there are many music composers who are not by any means the best performers, or perhaps even interpreters, of their own compositions.

I think a survival of the fittest approach is perfectly reasonable provided we are not spreading precious (public or private) sponsoship too thinly. One thousand festivals self-supported; well the best will thrive etc. Low grade festivals (and I have no idea if there are any of these at all) will simply not attract another year's sponsoship so it is in some way a self-limiting problem I would assume.

My PA loves the Hay-on-Wye festival and speaks about it so positively that perhaps one day I'll actually attend one.

[Barbara MacLeod]

For several years now my husband and I have attended the Wigtown Book Festival (south-east Scotland). We like it because (1) it is something we can do together (2) we hear authors, often "big names", that we would otherwise never get to hear (3) indulge ourselves in book displays the marquees and various small bookshops and lastly (4) get to talk to the authors.

[MelD]

I wish... there is nothing like it here in Switzerland!
The Swiss seem to be terrified (and negative) of anything that could possibly smack of academia, that's just for the rich folk... I will NEVER understand these attitudes and often yearn for some nice, normal, bookish Brits to hang out with, and a literary festival or one dedicated to a popular author, sigh!
Ah well, no doubt someone will point out the other advantages of living in a country like this ;o

[Dark Puss]

I'll refrain from pointing out the positive aspects of Switzerland, you'll have found those out for yourself.

Annual Geneva Book Fair (April-May)
Lake Constance festival? (May)

For its size Switzerland is far better served with music festivals (Paleo, Montreux, Lucerne etc etc) than book related ones.

BTW I know many bookish folk (some "British") in Switzerland, where do you live?