Review: Cheltenham Literature Festival

ANOTHER highly memorable Times-backed festival concluded at the weekend having brought together several hundred writers of immense talent.

There were numerous highlights - only to be expected when among the many household names appearing were Dame Judi Dench, Stephen Fry, Maureen Lipman, David Attenborough, Eric Sykes and so on and so on.

One of the real high-spots though was a rare public appearance on stage of Alan Bennett, who read from his new book, Untold Stories.

This is a series of diary entries, memories of his past life, all recalled with that wonderful gift Bennett has for making the most mundane matters of everyday life amusing yet significant. If there had been rafters in Cheltenham Town Hall that night they would have been swinging from them - such was the demand for tickets. Around 1,000 were packed in to hear Bennett - "please don't call me a national treasure" - read and also answer questions from the audience.

In one particular entry in his diary entries of more recent years he mentioned a national book store and this saw him give vent to his feelings about the decline in the High Street of independent booksellers.

He said he would probably get into trouble for saying it - "but please buy your books from the independent booksellers" - and attacked the likes of Amazon, supermarkets and the big chains he claims sell books far too cheaply.

"It's sadly changing the face of our High Streets when the small bookshops are forced to close," he added.

Comments that drew considerable supportive applause.

Spoilt for choice, with something like 400 literary names appearing, it's almost a pity this 10-day event can't be longer.

AW