The Midlands Literary Festival 2014

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The magical Midlands Meander will usher in spring with the premier literary festival in Kwazulu-Natal. The 5th Midlands Literary Festival takes place from the 23–24 August at Yellowwood Cafe in Howick.  And boy, do we have an August line-up for you!

"The exciting news is that after 8 long years, I have finally bagged one of the great names in South African literature: Marguerite Poland," gushes festival director Darryl David. Marguerite will present a talk on her soon to be published  anthology The Keeper, which will hit the shelves in September.  But her talk will also touch on her exquisitely beautiful book The Abundant Herds: a celebration of the Nguni cattle of the Zulu people as well as her last book Taken Captive by Birds.

Another not-to-be-missed talk is that of Nicki von der Heyde’s Field Guide to the Battlefields of SA.

Nicki is one of the top tour operators in KZN and this is reflected in her beautiful book that has received rave reviews.

Theatre director and critically acclaimed author and theatre personality Craig Higginson will also be winging his way to Howick. Craig is the author of such classics as The Landscape Painter, winner of the UJ Literary Award and he will talk on the creative interplay between his drama’s and novels.

Other books that I am really looking forward to are Chris Albertyn’s book Keeping Time: The Photographs and Cape Town Jazz Recordings of Ian Huntley(1964-1974), Barbara Siedle’s book Breathe the Dust, Mike Hardwich’s memoir of being a vet in KZN and Kerry Jone’s with the first picture book dictionary of a San language ever to be published. Famous dancer Tossie van Tonder comes to the Midlands Literary Festival with the most poetic name and a book to match. And Howick High pupil Jonathan William will undoubtedly talk on the most fascinating topic of the festival : a history of Japanese comics. I met Jonathan while buying a bunny chow at Mac Curry in Howick. There was something about how he opened this tome that told me – here was a book lover. A talk not to be missed!

But what fills my heart with pride on this our 5th anniversary is the people who have supported us since year one. The likes of acclaimed Pietermaritzburg poet Kobus Moolman; the legendary Ian Player, a man who should surely be honoured in the Icons of SA project. Judge Chris Nicholson who will unveil his debut short story anthology and Ashwin Desai, undoubtedly the most prolific author in SA. His latest book is definitely going to feature in my top 5 reads of 2014.

And a big thank you to our sponsors who have stood by us since day 1 – Yellowwood Café, our host whose venue offers the most stunning setting of all the literary festivals I organise,  PanMacmillan Publishers, who have sponsored book prizes for writers from year 1, Zulu-Lulu, who ensure that our writers walk away with the greatest memento  of all the literary festivals in SA, Signco for signage and banners,  Exclusive Books, our official bookseller. And all the guesthouses who have made this festival possible over the years: Stocklands Guesthouse, Rawdons, Lythwood Lodge, Fiddlewood Guesthouse, Nutmeg Guesthouse and Howick Falls Hotel. And to our pianist Nicky Grieshaber who ensures the Midlands Literary Festival remains the one of the most unique literary festivals in all of SA!

Tickets: R50 per person per day
Queries: Darryl Earl David- 0825764489 or davidd@ukzn.ac.za
Sandra Murphy – 033 330 2461

See also the Facebook page of the Midlands Literary Festival 2014.

 

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