Press release -
Alderney Literary Festival 2018
The Alderney Literary Trust proudly presents its 2018 Alderney Literary on the 23rd – 25th March at the Island Hall, Alderney.As always, the Festival celebrates history-based literature, exploring how the facts come together with authors’ interpretation of history. In 2018, the Festival explores the theme of Historifying Myths and Mythologizing History.
Our 12 guest authors for 2018 span an extensive historical timeline and are a mix of historians and novelists with a talent of bringing the past to life for us - reimagining lost worlds or providing fresh insight into forgotten truths.
Historical novelists explore the reality of the periods in which their books are set - Anthony Riches discusses the evidence for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Roman sources, while Robyn Young explores the setting of her new trilogy - the rich historical period of late 15th century England, and Victoria Blake breathes life into the rich and vivid tapestry of Renaissance Venice. Antonia Hodgson elaborates on the early 18th century, before the British gained their stiff upper lip, and Tim Pears explores 1945 Yugoslavia and Churchill’s role in facilitating Tito’s Communist regime after the war.
Historians discuss uncomfortable truths about the consequences of war and politics - Gary Sheffield explores the controversial question of how and why the First World War ended, and the impact the war has had on reshaping the world, while Keith Lowe argues that, while the Second World War looms large in our culture, it is a selective memory that is being abused for political purposes. Lord Martin Thomas of Gresford paints a revealing picture of court life in Regency England, providing insight into the gossip, scandals and intrigue of the Regency Court through the correspondence of those involved at the time. Liz Walton discusses the consequences of the Great War on the Channel Islands, and how it changed the old-world order forever.
The Festival’s Debut Novelist for 2018, Joy Rhoades, takes us to 1945 Australia and a harsh, unforgiving life in a drought-stricken sheep farm in the Outback of New South Wales, while travel & ghost writer Alan Wilkinson raids the history and mythology of the American West for his first novel, to tell the tale of young boy growing up in 1950s Britain, believing he is related Buffalo Bill.
The Festival opens and closes on the theme of historical myths and mythological history. In the opening panel, led by Festival Chairman, Simon Scarrow, historians and novelists discuss the phenomena of ‘fake news’ in its historical context, and why mythologised history endures. For the closing Festival event, Simon expounds on “The End of History” and challenges us to think on the nature of ‘Historia’ today, and how the authority of objective history is under attack from social media and Post-Modernism.
You can find out more about the Festival programme, our speakers and their talks, and other Festival events as they are added on www.alderneyliterarytrust.com/festival
Costs & Events Information
Individual Event Tickets cost £9. Entry to all Author events is free to under 18-year olds. Email info@alderneyliterarytrust.com to reserve your seat.
Individual Event tickets are now available online from http://www.alderneyliterarytrust.com/programme. Tickets will be available from Alderney’s Visitor Centre from mid-January. Contact the Visitor Centre for information 01481 825535
All other Alderney Literary Festival enquiries to info@alderneyliterarytrust.com
Topics
- Events
Categories
- festival
- events
- alderney
- books
- literary
Regions
- Bristol (City)
Just a stone’s throw from the south coast of England lies the treasured island of Alderney. A hidden gem with beautiful beaches, rich heritage, wildlife and scenery waiting to be discovered. Kick back and relax to enjoy the slower pace of life or get out to explore and take in the fresh sea air. However you choose to spend your time in Alderney you’ll soon realise just how easy it is to fall in love with this small island.
Alderney is the closest of all the Channel Islands to the UK, it is in easy reach. The island is just 3½ miles by 1½ miles at its widest point, one of the best ways of seeing this small island is on foot. Alderney boasts over 50 miles of winding lines and country paths covering every part of the island from the main town through to the commons and rugged coastline. On your walks around the island you’ll find fascinating historical sites, including Roman, Napoleonic and German architecture and in some cases all to be found on one site. A visit to the award winning museum is a must to find out more about the many layers of history on Alderney.
The peaceful island provides a perfect environment for stunning wildlife, from huge seabird colonies to hundreds of different wildflowers and moths, some special mammals, and incredible marine habitats. The lanes are exceptionally quiet, with very little traffic beyond the town, and the highest speed limit just 35mph. After night fall take in the clear night sky and enjoy the benefits of no light pollution and Alderney’s unspoilt natural environment.
The island provides a wide range of accommodation, anything from a 4 star beach front hotel to a delightful guest house and self catering accommodation to choose from. To find out more about where to stay visit www.visitalderney.com/stay/accommodation or for package holidays to Alderney go to www.alderneyholidays.com
Add in Alderney's culinary delights with an impressive selection of restaurants serving international cuisine with the best of Alderney's local produce and you'll see why Alderney is the Channel Island’s hidden gem, worth going the extra mile to visit.
Travel Information
There are four flights per day to Alderney from Southampton on Aurigny (www.aurigny.com) and you can connect to Alderney from airports in Bristol, East Midlands, Leeds, Manchester, Norwich and London Gatwick via Guernsey, also with Aurigny. For more travel options visit www.visitalderney.com/stay/travel
Alderney Fact file
- Alderney is the third largest Channel Island, part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey and is the closest to France, just 10 miles off Cotentin.
- Just eight square kilometres in size, it is home to around 2,000 residents and the iconic blond hedgehog.
- Around two per cent of the world’s gannet population choose Alderney as their breeding spot of choice every year, on two rocks just off the coast. The Island is also a hit with puffins and seals, who summer on nearby Burhou.
- Alderney’s heritage is arguably the richest in the Channel Islands, and is layered with Roman, Napoleonic and German fortifications. It boasts the UK’s best preserved Roman fortlet – the only standing Roman building in the Channel Islands.
- It also boasts the Channel Islands only working railway. The tracks were originally laid to transport granite from a quarry to the magnificent Victorian Breakwater – now a charming Underground Tube train trundles along the tracks, transporting visitors from Braye to the Island’s iconic striped Lighthouse, also open to visitors.
Discover more on www.visitalderney.com
