Photo from left to right: Lindsey Hilsum, Lewis Dartnell, Isabel Bannerman, Melvyn Bragg and Tom Holland.

Its sometimes hard to believe that the Bridport Literary Festival – affectionately known as BridLit – is now in its 15^th year. To quote the proverb: ‘Great oaks from small acorns grow’. Not sure we are great but our programme of events seems to expand year on year as we try to cover all genres of literature which we hope will appeal to our broad demographic. As well as fiction, our non fiction books cover politics, philosophy, the natural world, science, horticulture, travel, biography and autobiography and much more.

 

This year’s guest writers include Melvyn Bragg, historian Tom Holland, scientist Lewis Dartnell, foreign correspondent, Lindsey Hilsum and garden designer Isabel Bannerman.

 

Please remember the dates of this year’s BridLit and the Box Office at the Bridport TIC will be open to the general public for bookings from August Tel: No: 01308 424 901

 

Our Festival Friends grow in number and are an integral part of our festival – we host special events for them throughout the year including a Summer Party hosted by our Chairman and Trustees, which has become a firm fixture in our diaries. Becoming a Friend also gives you two weeks priority booking which is a bonus since so many of our events sell out quickly. Should you wish to become a Friend a membership documentis attached.

We are delighted to host an Afternoon of Talks on Monday 29 April at 2.30 pm at The Bridport Arts Centre. Don’t miss this very special Friends Event – open to all!  Tickets are selling fast!

2.30 pm LOST DORSET – An Illustrated Talk

David Burnett, founder of the Dorset based Dovecote Press, has put together a fascinating collection of 350 photographs which cover the years between the invention of the postcard in the 1880s until just after the First World War. Few of the photographs have ever been published, and many are extremely rare. The collection has resulted in a carefully observed portrait of Dorset’s villages and a rural way of life through a period of extraordinary upheaval and change.

 

Break for Refreshments

4.00 pm THE SALT PATH – Raynor Winn in conversation with Deirdre Coates

In one devastating week, Raynor Winn and husband Moth lost their home of 20 years, just as a terminal diagnosis threatened to take away their future together. With nowhere else to go, they decided to walk the South West Coastal Path: a 630 mile sea-swept trail from Somerset to Dorset via Devon and Cornwall. This is a beautiful, powerfully honest and deeply moving memoir about overcoming adversity.

Shortlisted for the Costa Biography Award and the Wainwright Prize, Raynor and Moth’s story of recovery from despair is inspirational in every way.

 

The Bridport Arts Centre
Buy Tickets £15 to include refreshments
Box Office: Bridport Tourist Information Centre
The Town Hall, South Street, Bridport
Telephone: 01308 424 901
Monday – Saturday 10.00 am – 3.00 pm until 1 April
Monday – Saturday 9.00 am – 5.00 pm from 1 April

 

Thanks for a wonderful experience coming to the Friends of Bridport Literary Festival. A really attentive and wonderful audience and such kind and friendly people. 

Raynor Winn

I love Dorset. The more I can do to urge people to go out and find out more about this County, as a Publisher and Author, the more I can do to steer people to find out about their village, their lane the happier I’ll be.

This was a lovely way to spend an afternoon with a lovely audience.

David Burnett