Difference and Desire

With a ‘Difference and Desire’ theme, this year’s Bath Literature Festival promises to be more successful than ever.  Audiences are offered a variety of events involving writers and thinkers from all disciplines in this highlight of the national literary circuit.

            First introduced in 1995, the festival rapidly built a reputation for presenting a broad range of top quality events.   It has become even more vibrant and distinct since Sarah LeFanu, writer and broadcaster, took over as Artistic Director in 2003.  With writing featured in all its forms there are readings, interviews, panel-discussions, performances and workshops throughout the nine days.

            Unlike other major Bath Festivals, the LitFest attracts and appeals to diverse audiences of all ages.  Most of the presentations take place in the Guildhall, and only last an hour or two with a café and bookshop set up on site for the duration.  As a result, visitors who don’t live close to the city may choose to attend several talks and discussions on the same day whereas locals can pick a variety of productions throughout the week.  Also, most tickets cost less than £10 and are therefore affordable to a wider audience.  Whatever your passion – poetry or politics, there is bound to be something to suit. 

            One of the reasons for the festival’s growing success is that its programme reflects current fashions and trends.  In recent years, food has become a political issue with where we buy and how we choose, becoming as important as what we buy and how we cook it.  Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall will discuss his work and the way society, art and the media view food these days.  Another expert known through television, is the scientist and fertility specialist, Robert Winston who will talk about the controversy surrounding advances in new reproductive technology and their effects  on all of society.  Terrorism is also a worldwide issue that can no longer be ignored; Ted Honderich, a controversial philosopher will argue the case for Zionism side by side with the moral rights of the Palestinians.  A further topical area of concern is the environment; George Monbiot, with his passionate analysis on how we can safeguard our future from the perils of global warming, is another contributor.

            Nevertheless, not only modern problems are examined in this year’s LitFest.  Much of what interests today’s readers has changed little with time.  In line with the Festival’s theme of desire, one of Britain’s foremost poets, Brian Patten will read from his recently published, ‘Collected Love Poems’.  And the celebrated biographer Claire Tomalin will be discussing Thomas Hardy’s life.  More than a hundred years ago, Hardy’s literature explored romantic love and the differences between old and new, town and country, man and woman.

            The difference between the sexes is the topic of Doris Lessing’s new book, ‘The Cleft’.  It offers an alternative myth to the story of Adam and Eve, suggesting that men evolved from women, rather than the reverse.  Whereas in much of her early work, Lessing was portrayed as an ardent feminist and liberal thinker, in this latest novel, some critics have found her portrayal of women negative and sexist. 

‘I wasn’t engaged in making propaganda for any point of view,’ says Lessing.  ‘I was just looking at a theme, taking the ball and running with it.’ 

            The Clefts were a community of women in pre-history who pro-created effortlessly by the phases of the moon.  Without sexual intrigue or difference, they were incurious and led an indolent, easy life, comfortable in their surroundings.   

‘I think that this is true now,’ says Lessing.  ‘Women do generally have an ease in the world that men have never achieved.’   Only after the shock of a male birth and a different, inquisitive species evolved, was there a change in lifestyle.  With the establishment of man, the Clefts’ previous utopian existence ended.  It was replaced by all the intricacies and jealousies of co-existence between the sexes that we can recognise today.

            For more than half a century, Lessing has written prodigiously in all forms; from drama, operas and poetry to science fiction and autobiography.  Born in Persia (now Iran) to British parents and brought up in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), much of her fiction is deeply autobiographical.  Though reluctant to talk a lot about what she is writing next, Lessing says it will be set in the beginning of the Twentieth Century, before she was born.  ‘I’m writing my parents lives if they hadn’t been screwed up by the First World War.’   This doyenne of British Literature has no personal connection with Bath, but apart from Edinburgh and Hay, it is the only festival she has chosen to visit this year. 

            War is the subject of other Festival events, including a discussion between news correspondent Kate Adie and surgeon Jonathan Kaplan.  In Kaplan’s book, ‘Contact Wounds’, he writes about his experiences treating victims of modern warfare and how people have to lead their lives alongside conflict.

            Set against the backdrop of a country’s struggle for independence, love and loneliness is the subject of this year’s Bath Big Read with Helen Dunmore’s ‘House of Orphans’.  With availability in Bath bookshops ahead of its official release, this latest novel from a Bristol-based author will undoubtedly be a popular choice for local readers and organised groups.

            It wasn’t long ago when it was generally thought that the growth in satellite TV and computer ownership would create a decline in the nation’s habit of reading books.  But quite the opposite has happened; with popular TV programmes creating book clubs and reading groups becoming ever more fashionable. 

            This year’s Bath Literature Festival is testament to the enduring pleasure of reading the written word.

As with all Bath Festival events, tickets for any of the discussions, poetry readings, children’s events, workshops or day schools are available from the Bath Festivals Box Office on Abbey Green or by telephone on 01225 463362.  For up to date information, sign up for the e-newsletter service and get exclusive information and last-minute ticket offers through the festival website on www.bathlitfest.org.uk

© Judith Cameron