PROGRAMME 2023
Tickets from: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/corfu-literary-festival-2023-2555679
MONDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER
The Beginning
As guests, visitors and speakers fly, drive and sail in at varying times of the day, we’ll meet up and convene for casual supper at Festival and local favourite PERGOLA TAVERNA in the Jewish Quarter from 8.30pm
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TUESDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER - DAYTIME
A Day in Corfu Town
We suggest our guests settle in to Corfiot life with a Liston lunch, a swim at Annemomelos or Faliraki
or a visit to the Achilleon Palace Museum and gardens
TUESDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER @ 6:45pm
Children's Books - First Steps to Imagination
Corfu Public Library - Corfu Town
Hosted at Corfu’s magnificent Public Library, we explore the importance of children’s literature and how books can influence, inspire and stay with us. Authors Danai Dragonea and Craig Pomranz discuss their books with educationalist and writer Melanie Hewitt and we are delighted the event will include a special contribution by Dr Lee Durrell MBE
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WEDNESDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER - DAYTIME
The Treasures of Corfu Town
Corfu Town
We would recommend guests visit the shaded gardens of the fascinating and unique British Cemetery, which boasts 30 types of rare orchids, trees donated by Theodore Stephanidis and lots of
wild tortoises wandering about, or to Corfu’s Archaeological Museum to see our magnificent
Gorgon and other treasures
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WEDNESDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER @ 19:00
Greece, Alexandria and the Faber Years: Durrell, Eliot & Miller
En Plous Bookshop - Corfu Town
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Dramatist and writer Jane Coyle, who worked with Durrell at Faber (and whose play After Melissa, some of which is set on Corfu, was introduced at 2022’s Corfu Literary Festival) will be in conversation with renowned historian and Hellenist author Bruce Clark. Introduced by Kathryn Baird, Paxos Wings
Festival Director and producer of recent award winning film The Laughing Boy and chaired by screenwriter David Evan Giles, we shall hear of Faber publishing bringing writers in Greece to the
fore, Durrell’s friendships with Henry Miller, their mutual association with both Nobel Laureate
George Seferis, TS Eliot and much more.
Held at charming Plous Bookshop in their writers’ room, shots of tsipouro will be served!
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THURSDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER - DAYTIME
Wine & Honey Tasting
Theotoky Estate
We’re going all Greek Gods at the Theotoky Estate in Corfu’s verdant Ropa Valley.
Transport from Corfu Town to the famous vineyards of the Theotoky family estate for wine sampling, nibbles and presentation with the added delights of a specially arranged
honey tasting with a local producer
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THURSDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER @ 18:30
The Anglo-Hellenic League
Gardens of the Municipal Galleray at The Palace of St Michael and St George
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The Corfu Literary Festival are thrilled to partner with the Anglo-Hellenic League and welcome them to Corfu for their very first overseas event outside Athens. The Anglo-Hellenic League was founded to promote Anglo-Greek understanding and friendship, has a long history of charitable and cultural work and they organise the Runciman Award. This annual prize is awarded to a book or books, wholly or
mainly about some aspect of Greece or the world of Hellenism, published in English in the first edition. The evening’s speakers will include Dr John Kittmer, Chair of the AHL, 2022’s Runciman winner
Mr Ian Collins, poet Mr David Harsent and 2023’s Runciman winner, poet A E Stallings.
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We are honoured to also welcome His Britannic Majesty's Ambassador to the Hellenic Republic,
Mr Matthew Lodge.
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NOTE: Admission to this event is by pre-registration only. Please go to
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The event will not be livestreamed or recorded.
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FRIDAY 22ND SEPTEMBER- DAYTIME
Explore the wonders of the island beyond Corfu Town
We recommend our island guests take a visit to the peaceful Capodistrias Museum and gardens
or take the short boat ride to Vido islet for a swim and gorgeous views of the
UNESCO World Heritage Site of Corfu Old Town
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FRIDAY 22ND SEPTEMBER @ 19:00
A Writing Couple
The Ionian Parliament Building
Corfu Literary Festival co-founder and author Alex Preston interviews Rebecca and Ed Smith,
both writers of very different books. If writing is by nature a solitary job, how does it work in a family?
A friction of creativities or inspiration & empathy to one another?
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followed by
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A New Voice
Recipients of Booker Prize Foundation Scholarship and winner of this year’s Betty Trusk Award for his debut novel Mercia’s Take, author Daniel Wiles talks to Alex Preston and will read from his book.
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followed by
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Cricket - Why It Matters
To mark Corfu celebrating 200 Years of Cricket, we have assembled a sparkling panel of experts to discuss the joy, fellowship, laws (not rules) and global importance of cricket. Sky commentator, guru and former player Simon Hughes is joined by author Ed Smith, England player and Chief Selector 2018-21, sports writer Jon Hotton and representatives of the Hellenic Cricket Federation.
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Following the panel discussion there will be a special showing of Simon’s new documentary film
The Greatest Game, celebrating England’s amazing 2019 cricket World Cup triumph.
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SATURDAY 23RD SEPTEMBER @ 14:00
Cricket
Gouvia Marina Cricket Pitch
The Authors XI Cricket Club
vs
Corfu Select XI
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SATURDAY 23RD SEPTEMBER @ 19:00
The Ionian Academy, Corfu Town
In Co-organisation with the UNESCO Chair on Threats to Cultural Heritage
of the Ionian University, Professor Stavros Katsios introduces
the 2023 Corfu Literary Festival's Nikos Louvros Lecture
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Historian, archaeologist, broadcaster and writer Dr Bettany Hughes is interviewed by author,
screenwriter and historian Alex von Tunzleman and are joined by archaeologist Elena Giagoudi.
Why do some ancient artefacts and treasures affect us deeply to this day? Which statues, ruins, relics or
objects do we consider sacred and to be protected and which might require re-evaluation or become contentious?
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followed by
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Professor Peter Frankopan in conversation with Dr Adam Rutherford
As wildfires rage, floods and storms tear up homes and communities and terrifying temperatures are reached, Peter Frankopan’s book explores humanity’s relationship with the world over history has
shaped where we are
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SUNDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER @ 12:00 / Midday
Cricket
Liston Cricket Pitch - Corfu Town
The Authors XI Cricket Club
vs
Corfu Mixed XI
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SUNDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER @ 18:30
The Finale
Ionian Estates Private Venue
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Author Evie Wyld Reads Part II of her short story Visiting, commissioned for the
Corfu Literary Festival which Evie started in 2022…..
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followed by
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Paradise Lost or Regained?
How to save Greece's breathtaking biodiversity before it's too late
From Corfu in the Ionian Sea to the Prespa lakes in the mountains of the north, Greece has long
been a haven for the most miraculous wildlife. But in an age of rapid climate change, wildfires, overdevelopment and dammed rivers, the wild species so richly described by Gerald Durrell and
tirelessly safeguarded by conservationists up and down the country are facing a fragile and uncertain future. Drawing on their experiences with monk seals, brown bears and Dalmatian pelicans,
Director of the Ionian Environment Foundation, Simon Karythis and writer and conservation campaigner Julian Hoffman take us on a journey to some of Greece's most remarkable biodiversity hotspots, asking what needs to be done to preserve this irreplaceable natural wealth into the future.
The event is chaired by Peter Fiennes.
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followed by
​The Corfu Literary Festival 2023 Finale
Professor Sarah Churchwell and New York’s cabaret star Craig Pomranz
weave their magic together from books, film, theatre and song.
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Please note that all events are subject to the availability of the presenters and panelists and
the kindness of the weather
For out-of-town events, coach travel to and from the venues will be arranged for those without their
own transport included in the ticket price
Corfu Literary Festival will be hosting their speakers for supper, post-event, each evening and guests,
event attendees and visitors are encouraged and welcomed to join us at our chosen tavernas
Details and contact details for reservations to follow
Tickets from Eventbrite
https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/corfu-literary-festival-2023-2555679
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You can buy the books of all the authors featured at the Festival at our online bookstore
https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/corfu-literary-festival-2023
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