Have you heard of The Folio Prize? I hadn’t, but I’m  extremely glad I found out about it and thought I’d share with you.

The Folio Prize is the first British prize to celebrate English fiction from every country, in every genre, in every form. Brilliant.

Sponsored by The Folio Society, (publishers of very, very beautiful books – you know the ones, with the gorgeous hardback covers) the prize has created an Academy of the world’s most eminent writers and critics to seek out and share the very best novels and short stories of our time.

In the weekend leading up to the first prize announcement, The Folio Society and The British Library (LOVE The British Library) are hosting a festival involving the Folio Prize 2014 judges – Lavinia Greenlaw, Michael Chabon, Sarah Hall, Nam Le, Pankaj Mishra – alongside shortlisted authors and members of the Folio Prize Academy, who will come together for a  natter (it’s down as a ‘discussion’) about the art of storytelling.
Together the Folio judges and guest Academicians (ho yes, I used that word) will examine how each element is essential to those books that stimulate and stay with us… and I suspect there will be some things that pop up and surprise us all…
Here are the listings, some of which are free and all of which will be held at The British Library (address below.)
Hope to see you there!
 

Saturday 8 March

Event: On Voice: Lavinia Greenlaw, Ali Smith, George Saunders and Erica Wagner in conversation. Part of The Folio Prize Fiction Festival
Time: 11.30am – 12.45pm
Tickets: £8 /£6 over 60s /£5
More info & bookings
Event: On Place: Nam Le, Sebastian Faulks, Amity Gaige and James Walton in conversation.Part of The Folio Prize Fiction Festival
Time: 13.45 – 15.00
Tickets: £8 /£6 over 60s /£5
More info & bookings
Event: On Reading Women: Tessa Hadley, Frances Wilson and Suzi Feay. Part of The Folio Prize Fiction Festival
Time: 15.30 – 16.30
Tickets: £8 /£6 over 60s /£5
More info & bookings

Sunday 9 March

Event: On Genre and Form: Michael Chabon, Mark Haddon, Eimear McBride and Stephanie Merritt in conversation. Part of The Folio Prize Fiction Festival
Time: 11.30 – 12.45
Tickets: £8 /£6 over 60s /£5
More info & bookings
Event: Reading Room: Rachel Kushner and Anne Carson. Part of The Folio Prize Fiction Festival
Time: 12.00 – 13.00
Tickets: FREE
More info & bookings
Event: On Structure: Sarah Hall, A.S. Byatt, Sergio De La Pava and Sam Leith in conversation.Part of The Folio Prize Fiction Festival
Time: 13.45 – 15.00
Tickets: £8 /£6 over 60s /£5
More info & bookings
Event: Reading Room: Amity Gaige and Jane Gardam. Part of The Folio Prize Fiction Festival
Time: 14.15 – 15.15
Tickets: FREE
More info & bookings
Event: On Context: Pankaj Mishra, Rachel Kushner, Andrew O’Hagan and Rachel Cooke in conversation. Part of The Folio Prize Fiction Festival
Time: 15.30 – 16.30
Tickets: £8 /£6 over 60s /£5
More info & bookings
Event: Reading Room: George Saunders, Eimear McBride and Sergio de la Pava. Part of The Folio Prize Fiction Festival
Time: 15.45 – 16.45
Tickets: FREE
More info & bookings
 
 
The British Library
96 Euston Road
London
NW1 2DB