BOOKS

For the latest news, listings and reviews, go to list.co.uk /books

DUNDEE LITERARY FESTIVAL Tayside’s premier book festival returns this autumn

The Dundee Literary Festival programme isn’t announced until 14 September but the sneak preview we can reveal here makes for typically exciting reading. With Dundee recently designated the UK’s first UNESCO City of Design the festival will be taking a special look at book covers and production. As home to the Dundee International Book Prize, some great bookshops (like Madigan’s, pictured), and a creative writing MLitt at the city’s university, it will also be championing debut authors including alumni Oliver Langmead, alongside Lucy Ribchester, Malachy Tallack and William Goldsmith. In the birthplace of Desperate Dan, comics will also be celebrated with debut stars such as 2000AD’s Tom Foster and towering figures

like UK Comics Laureate Dave Gibbons. Jeanette Winterson will make a special pre- festival appearance on Wed 7 Oct, while there will also be an event with Janice Galloway, poetry and music from Rally & Broad, and a showcase of new work produced by The HaVeN Dundee in conjunction with the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Neu! Reekie! and the Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival. ‘We have theatre, film, poetry, workshops, kids events, the 100th birthday of Ladybird books, an exploration of the human body, censorship and cakes,’ sums up manager Peggy Hughes. ‘There’s something for the curious, whatever it is you’re curious about.’ (David Pollock) Various venues, Dundee, Wed 21–Sun 25 Oct.

3 Sep–5 Nov 2015 THE LIST 53