Dorset, Somerset &amp; Bristol

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/09/00-books-thought-catalog-FACFpJVoMJs-unsplash.jpg" alt="book festivals dorset somerset" class="wp-image-100497" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/09/00-books-thought-catalog-FACFpJVoMJs-unsplash.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/09/00-books-thought-catalog-FACFpJVoMJs-unsplash-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/09/00-books-thought-catalog-FACFpJVoMJs-unsplash-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/09/00-books-thought-catalog-FACFpJVoMJs-unsplash-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/09/00-books-thought-catalog-FACFpJVoMJs-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo Thought Catalog, Unsplash</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-taunton-literary-festival"><a href="https://brendonbooks.org/taunton-literary-festival-2024/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Taunton Literary Festival</a></h2>



What: The team at Brendon Books, Taunton&#8217;s brilliant independent bookshop, are the driving force behind this small festival, now in its 14th year.



When: 21 September – 28 November.



Where: Around Taunton, including Brendon Books.



On the bill: an eclectic line up ranging from controversial Operation Ark&#8217;s Pen Farthing to Irish singer Cara Dillon. <a href="https://brendonbooks.org/taunton-literary-festival-2024/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">See the programme.</a>







<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bath-children-s-literature-festival"><a href="https://bathfestivals.org.uk/childrens-literature/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bath Children&#8217;s Literature Festival</a></h2>



What: Europe&#8217;s biggest kids&#8217; literary festival with around 100 debut, local and national writers, creators and illustrators descending on the city for talks, storytime sessions, poetry, screenings, drawing, writing and making workshops, and interactive book events for all the family.



When: 27 September – 6 October.



Where: Venues across the city.



On the bill: Michael Rosen, Nick Sharratt, Jacqueline Wilson, Rob Biddulph, Russell Kane, Aisling Fowler, Martin Brown, Richard Ayoade, Sophie Dahl, Ben Miller, Adam Kay, Cressida Cowell, Alex Scheffler, Harry Hill – just for starters.<a href="https://bathfestivals.org.uk/childrens-literature/whats-on/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> See the programme.</a>







<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-yeovil-literary-festival"><a href="https://www.yeovilliteraryfestival.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yeovil Literary Festival</a></h2>



What: Established in 2013, the festival has attracted some big names (who&#8217;d have thought icon Armistead Maupin would ever come to little &#8216;ol Yeovil?) and this year&#8217;s line up doesn&#8217;t disappoint.



When: 10 October – 16 November.



Where: various including Westlands Entertainment Venue and Yeovil Library.



On the bill: The likes of Sir Ian Rankin, Martin Clunes, Simon Armitage, Susie Dent, Ben Elton, Carol Klein, Fern Britton and Wayne Sleep. <a href="https://www.yeovilliteraryfestival.co.uk/whats-on/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">See the programme.</a>







<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dorchester-literary-festival"><a href="https://dorchesterliteraryfestival.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dorchester Literary Festival</a></h2>



What: The tenth iteration of the festival with Tracey Chevalier as patron  – and speaker – and a <a href="https://dorchesterliteraryfestival.com/childrens-programme/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">kids&#8217; programme.</a>



When: 12 – 19 October.



Where: Dorset Museum and The Dorford Centre. 



On the bill: A host of household names including Clare Balding, John Suchet, Kate Mosse, cloud spotter Gavin Pretor-Pinney, Tracey Chevalier, Rachel de Thame, Alan Hollighurst, Victoria Hislop, Giles &amp; Mary from Gogglebox, Kate Humble, Polly Toynbee, Pam Ayres, Michael Mansfield, Jonathan Dimbleby and Rory Cellan Jones (Sophie from Romania).<a href="https://dorchesterliteraryfestival.com/whats-on/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> See the programme.</a>







<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wells-festival-of-literature"><a href="https://www.wellsfestivalofliterature.org.uk/#" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wells Festival of Literature</a></h2>



What: The first festival in 1992 ran for just one weekend and now it&#8217;s grown to nine days, cleverly scheduled so that it&#8217;s possible for keenies to attend every single event. 



When: 18 –&nbsp;26 October.



Where: The Cedars Hall in the grounds of Wells Cathedral School.



On the bill: Shami Chakrabati, Susie Dent, AC Grayling, Pam Ayres, Louise Minchin, Sophie Grigson, John Suchet, Jonathan Coe and more. <a href="https://www.wellsfestivalofliterature.org.uk/2024-programme/#" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">See the programme. </a>







<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bridport-literary-festival"><a href="https://www.bridlit.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bridport Literary Festival</a></h2>



What: Born out of the internationally renowned <a href="https://bridportprize.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bridport Prize</a>, founded in 1973, to encourage and reward writers of short stories and poetry, the Festival is now in its 20th year.



When: 3 – 9 November.



Where: In and around Bridport, including the Electric Palace, The Bull Ballroom and Bridport Library.



On the bill: To whet your appetite, Will Hutton, Dame Harriet Walter, Rose Boyt, James Bowers KC, Damien Lewis, Bettany Hughes, Simon Russell-Beale, Daisy Goodwin and Mr Great British Sewing Bee Patrick Grant. <a href="https://www.bridlit.com/whats-on/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">See the programme.</a>







<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dulverton-exmoor-literary-fes-tival"><a href="https://visitdulverton.com/dulverton-exmoor-literary-festival/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dulverton Exmoor Literary Fes</a><a href="https://visitdulverton.com/dulverton-exmoor-literary-festival/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tival</a> </h2>



What: After the inaugural event in 2022, the Exmoor book fest has gone from strength to strength, with an eclectic line up and Celtic harp recital, crime writing discussion and a children&#8217;s story corner thrown in.



When: 16 &amp; 17 November.



Where: Dulverton Town Hall and the library. 



On the bill: Deborah Meaden, Jonathan Dimbleby, Plum Sykes, Caroline Quentin and former Children’s Laureate Lauren Child CBE, amongst others. <a href="https://visitdulverton.com/dulverton-exmoor-literary-festival/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">See the programme</a>.

Look books! Somerset & Dorset’s autumn literary fests

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