A new chapter

For those interested in words, literature and ideas there is no shortage of events, festivals and publications to look forward to across the region this year.

One of the major literary events of last year, both in Yorkshire and nationally, was the launch of the Brontë200 bicentenary celebrations marking 200 years since the the births of the famous siblings. At the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth the commemorations are set to continue. Following on from the success of last year’s focus on Charlotte led by novelist Tracy Chevalier, the museum this year welcomes poet Simon Armitage as its creative partner for 2017 to curate a programme of exhibitions and events to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Branwell Brontë, brother of Charlotte, Emily and Anne. The full programme will be announced later this month.

Hebden Bridge-based independent publishers Bluemoose Books will be following up on their successful tenth anniversary year in 2016 with the publication in May of award-winning writer Benjamin Myers’ latest novel The Gallows Pole. It tells the true story of the Cragg Vale Coiners, a small band of counterfeiters who operated in the late 18th century in the Upper Calder Valley, where Myers now lives. The book has already been tipped by the Observer and the Guardian as a fiction highlight for this year, so it’s one to look out for.

The region’s literature festivals, in addition to showcasing the work of top novelists and poets, continue to provide a much-needed forum for public debate with many festivals inviting politicians, academics and influential thinkers to appear on their programmes. The year kicks off with Huddersfield LitFest, running from March 4-19. Among those appearing are Alan Johnson, Jenni Murray, Ian Rankin, Joanne Harris, Jake Arnott and Sophie Hannah. Also in March is York Literature Festival (March 16-30) which will feature in its fascinating line-up actor and Sherlock creator Mark Gatiss, former politician turned novelist Ann Widdecombe, comedy legend and travel writer Michael Palin and architectural historian and broadcaster Dan Cruickshank who will be talking about inspirational buildings over the centuries. In Scarborough Books by the Beach returns, running from April 26-May 1. Best-selling novelist Joanna Trollope will be opening the festival talking about her new novel City of Friends. Also appearing is crime writer Ann Cleeves, also the creator of high profile TV series Vera and Shetland, plus Four Mums in a Boat – the four working mothers from Yorkshire who made history last year by rowing across the Atlantic in 67 days. Check the festival’s website for updates and further details of their programme.

Bradford Literature Festival, which has taken place in May for the past two years, is making a calendar move in 2017 and will this year be running June 30 to July 9 for another packed programme across ten days celebrating the written and spoken word in all its forms. Last year’s festival attracted almost 32,000 visitors, three times more than the number who attended the previous year. This is a festival that, deservedly, continues to go from strength the strength.

In Leeds the Big Bookend continues to programme author events, book launches, workshops and writing competitions throughout the year with the main weekend festival usually taking place over two days in June.

Niddfest, the literary festival that celebrates nature in writing brings leading writers for adults and children to the beautiful landscape of Upper Nidderdale to share their passion for words and the natural world. The programme includes a variety of outdoor events such as den building, bird watching and river walks – with plenty of family-friendly opportunities to enjoy the countryside. Entering its third year in 2017, the festival will take place over the summer – the team will be announcing dates shortly, so check the website for details.

One of the largest and most prestigious literature festivals in the country, Ilkley Literature Festival returns in the autumn for another two and a half weeks of author interviews, workshops and performance. This year it runs from September 29 to October 15.

As ever, there isn’t enough space to mention all the literary events and festivals across the region, but rest assured they will make an appearance in these pages during the coming year.