Bilingual Lit-fest in France, mostly gratuit!
Here’s something a bit different: a well-stocked weekend literature festival in Les Deux Sevres, north of the Loire Valley in France. A bilingual lit-fest, in fact, with principal guest writer, poet and novelist Helen Dunmore, http://www.helendunmore.com/poetry.asp T. S. Eliot prize short-listed and Orange Prize winner; and our own, David Cooke, http://www.writeoutloud.net/profiles/davidcooke.
And it’s not expensive, entry being only €5, which seems to be for the entire weekend. I am sure I shall be corrected if not.
St. Clémentin is home to quite a few British residents who have been running lots of Anglophone cultural and literary activities over the years and have hit on the idea of running something bilingual.
Other poets include poets John Hudson, Roger Elkin and Katherine Gallagher who will be presenting a bilingual workshop on an award-winning text. The exceptionally-talented violinist, Léonor de Recondo, from Paris will be playing, as well as reading from her novels.
The Linen Press will present Lynn Michell, Hema Macherla, Juliet Bates and Sophie Radice. French raconteur Michel Cordeboeuf will entertain with stories, legends and songs from La Vienne. Romance, crime and espionage feature with romantic novelist Roisin McAuley revealing some French Secrets, Bill Kirton helping us to plot the perfect crime and Duncan Falconer taking us into the world of espionage. Isabelle Soulard will be describing the life and times of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Annie Massy will present traditional and much loved songs and poems by Bernard Dimey. Many local writers, historians and musicians combine to make this a memorable three-day event. Contact Glyn Pope at gjpopeuk@gmail.com for a free programme. Please say you saw it mentioned on Write Out Loud.
Having organised bilingual poetry events in Bordeaux over a four-year period, and worked with French and Anglophone writers to translate between us, Write Out Loud is keen to support this wonderful venture. If anyone would like us to consider organising a group to go, to get group travel, just email info@writeoutloud.net with your details, including location in UK, and phone number. We shall see, or on verra.
More info on their webspace: http://segorastclementincelebratetheword.blogspot.com/
Bilingual LitFest 31st August, 1/2nd Sept 2012, Saint Clémentin 79150 Deux-Sèvres France
Julian (Admin)
Fri 15th Jun 2012 18:24
Glyn I couldn't raise any enthusiasm for the trip, money cited as the reason in every case. So guilty do I feel about this that I have put it back on the front page in hope of sending freelancers to you!