Lennoxlove 2013 is well and truly launched! The programmes are printed and will be appearing around East Lothian over the next couple of weeks, but don't worry - you won't miss out if you can't get your hands on one, EVERYTHING you need to know is just a click away...
Welcome to the programme of the 5th Lennoxlove Book Festival. Just as Scotland hunkers down for the winter and the clocks change, Lennoxlove comes alive. The great house will sparkle as authors light its halls and the marquees on the lawns, and the crowds crunch across the gravel to listen, laugh and ask questions, some of them awkward. This years programme bursts with life and vigor; superb authors such as Richard Dawkins, Peter Snow, William McIlvanney, Kate Mosse and Gavin Francis will be joined by politicians who write beautifully, Douglas Hurd and Alan Johnson, and, to celebrate the Year of Natural Scotland, by the first John Muir Lennoxlove Lecturer, Sir Chris Bonington. Jeremy Paxman has written a magnificent history of the Great War and Jim Naughtie will talk about the presidency of Barack Obama, having covered his career from an early stage. John Lloyd, Jon Canter, John Sessions and Rory Bremner will lighten the mood.
None of what follows would be possible without the kindnesses of many: to begin with, our hosts Hamilton and Kinneil Estates, and our lead sponsors McInroy & Wood who have supported the festival since it began. Creative Scotland and East Lothian Council have been fundamental with their funding and support, we thank EventScotland for helping us with a Year of Natural Scotland 2013 theme this year, and we are glad to host the Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust Book Awards for the first time. East Lothian’s own university, Queen Margaret, add their support and weight, as do the National Library of Scotland and Springfords. But most of all, I should like to thank you who are reading this, our audience. You are very welcome.
