The Independent Bath Literature Festival

Launched in 1995, the Bath Literature Festival has become one of the UK's best known festivals for stimulating debate, lively conversation and fascinating authors insights.

Taking place annually over 9 days in February/March, and using The Guildhall in Bath as its base, the Festival seeks to make you think whilst it entertains, with unique events pairing like-minded authors, dynamic debates on topical issues, and specially commissioned work by leading contemporary writers. Far from a stop-off for authors on their annual promotional tours around the nations' bookshops, this Festival gives you a chance to discuss and explore ideas relevant to their literature and to life today.

Visitors flock to the Festival to be inspired, to enter the debates, to sit back and listen, and to take part themselves in the many workshops and interactive experiences on offer.

The 2013 Festival was Artistic Director James Runcie's fourth and final festival and he bowed out in impressive style. Highlights included the Big Bath Read with Elif Shafak, a performance of the courtroom scenes from To Kill A Mockingbird, double Man Booker winner Hilary Mantel, and, of course, the inimitable J.K. Rowling. In 2014 we welcome writer and comedian Viv Groskrop to the role of Artistic Director.

The 2014 Independent Bath Literature Festival takes place on 28 February - 7 March. You can receive regular updates by email by signing up to our e-newsletter list here. For more information on the Festival and the PenFriends scheme visit www.bathfestivals.org.uk/literature