Kendal Film Festival Gets Bookish...

Chances are that you already know about the Kendal Mountain Film Festival - hint, it does what it says on the box - but as we told you before, this year's festival also incorporates the first Kendal Mountain Book Festival as part of the week-long event.

You won't be oversurprised to learn that the Book Festival concentrates on mountain literature, but you may be wondering how it works. Well, it's not about reading books aloud or owt like that. Instead there'll be a series of what the organisers reckon will be 'lively dicsussions' with authors and critics discussing issues at the heart of mountain writing.

Lively Discussions...

The first debate on Saturday 13th November is chaired by Eric Robson (outdoor author and chairman of Radio 4's Gardeners Question Time) and features Maria Coffey (writer and sociologist), Steve Dean, (writer and Boardman Tasker judge), Bernadette Macdonald, (Banff Centre for Mountain Culture), Bernard Newman (Editor, Climber magazine), and Ken Wilson (writer and publisher). Since Ken Wilson is notorious for his, erm, strongly held views and powers of expression, it should be a good one.

There's also going to be a special event running all week looking at Cumbria's unique contribution to mountain literature, with authors such as Chris Bonington and Simon Yates. There's readings and discussions with major authors Audrey Salkeld, Maria Coffey and Dermot Somers plus writers short-listed for this year's Boardman Tasker award - Malcolm Slesser, Jamie Andrew and Richard Askwith.

Book Fair Too

Last but not least, there's a Book Fair at Kendal Town Hall from 19-21 November which will give you a chance to pick up new titles hot off the press or fill in the gaps on your shelves courtesy of Cheyne Books for Mountaineers.

The 2004 Kendal Mountain Film Festival runs from 13-21 November and you can get full details from the festival web site at www.mountainfilm.co.uk where you can buy tickets online. Alternatively call the box office on 01539 725133.