HSBC GALLE LIT FEST takes life once more
THE HISTORIC GALLE FORT AND ITS VICINITY WILL BECOME EVERY BOOKLOVER’S FAVOURITE HAUNT COME JANUARY 18-22,2012 WHEN THE HSBC GALLE LIT FEST TAKES LIFE ONCE MORE, AS INTIMATE LUNCHES AND DINNERS DISCUSS THE INTRICACIES OF PENNING A BOOK, PANEL DISCUSSIONS
The creative genius of Geoffrey Dobbs, planned to minute detail in the able hands of Festival Curator, Shyam Selvadurai, the festival being held for the sixth successive time promises to bring in an array of writers from across the globe, many award winning and million copy sellers who have repeatedly topped seller lists.
In the organisers own words the festival is an ‘intimate and relaxed affair set in the laid back atmosphere of the UN world heritage city of Galle Fort. Few festivals can match its location and we welcome participants and festival goers alike to sit back and enjoy the companionship and conversation of the event.’
As the majestic old Fort will play host to both local and international writers of repute, some of the key authors whose presence at next year’s festival will add to the literary genius of the event include 2005 Shakespeare and 2001 Kistler Prize winner Richard Dawkins, Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish (Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 2010, Winner, Mahatma Gandhi Peace Award of Canada, 2010), Sir Alistair Horne (Winner, The Hawthornden Prize 1963 and Winner, Wolfson History Award 1978), Manju Kapur (Commonwealth Prize and Best First Book Prize), Hari Kunzru (Winner of the Somerset Maugham Award 2002) Nayantara Sahgal (Winner Commonwealth Writers Prize Eurasia 1986) Meera Syal (Winner, Betty Trask Award 1996, Shortlisted for the Guardian Fiction Prize 1996) Simon Sebag Montefiore (Winner, Costa Biography Award 2008, Winner, LA Times Book Prize for Biography 2008, Winner, British Book Award, History Book of the Year Prize 2005), Joanna Trollope and Dawn columnist Irfan Husain.
Some of the local authors who will participate at the festival include Romesh Gunasekera shortlisted for the Booker Prize and Guardian Fiction Prize in 2004, Sakuntala Sachithanandan (Winner, Gratien Prize 2011), Sunethra Rajakarunanayake (Winner, Swarnapusthaka Award, 2011, Winner, State Literary Award, 2008 Winner, Swarnapusthaka Award, 2008) Anura Rathnavibhushana, Roshi Fernando (Winner, Impress Prize for New Writers 2009) and Randy Boyagoda.
The final program and tickets are expected to be released by late next month.
FEATURED AUTHORS
DR. IZZELDIN ABUELAISH
Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish is a Palestinian medical doctor who was born and raised in the Jabalia Refugee Camp. In January 2009, three of his young daughters were killed by Israeli shells fired directly into their bedroom. His memoir, (2010) tells the story of his life and his refusal to be hardened into hatred by his loss. His philosophy of peace has won him numerous awards and honorary doctorates, worldwide. His memoir is an international bestseller and has been translated into many languages. ww.daughtersforlife.com Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 2010 Winner, Mahatma Gandhi Peace Award of Canada, 2010
ACHINTHYA BANDARA
Achinthya Bandara is a graduate of the University of Colombo. He has worked with the Martin Wickramasingha Trust Fund in researching the writer’s work for children, as well as Wickramasinghe’s ideological perspectives and their impact on Sri Lankan literature. His other research interests include the contextual relationship between the Sigiriya Frescoes and King Kashyapa, as well as Portuguese creole speakers.
RANDY BOYAGODA
Born to Sri Lankan parents, writer, critic and scholar, Randy Boyagoda, is a professor of literature at Ryerson University in Toronto. His debut novel, Governor of the Northern Province (2006), was long- listed for the Scotiabank Giller Prize and earned considerable acclaim. His second novel, Beggar’s Feast (2011), is set in Sri Lanka and concerns the life of a man born to low prospects in an upcountry village, who lives for one hundred years in defiance of his fate.
JOHN BOYNE
John Boyne is the author of 7 internationally bestselling novels and 2 books for younger readers. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2006) sold 5 million copies worldwide and won a host of international literary awards. It was made into a Miramax feature film. His most recent novels are The Absolutist (2011), set during the First World War, and Noah Barleywater Runs Away (2011), which has already won and been shortlisted for various children’s book awards. His work is published in over 40 languages. He lives in Dublin. Winner, Irish Book Award Children’s Book of the Year 2009 Winner, Irish Book Award People’s Choice Book of the Year 2009 Winner, Orange Prize Readers Group Book of the Year 2009
Daily Mirror
