Louis de Bernieres, famed for Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, not only spoke but played and sang at this year’s Wigtown Book Festival in Dumfries and Galloway.
The author has recently released a new album called The Songs of Louis de Bernieres with The Bookshop Band volume 1.
The album is a collaboration with Wigtown-based musicians who he met on a previous visit to the festival.
He said: “It’s a collection of melancholy but hopefully catchy songs.”
The Bookshop Band, which consists of Beth Porter Please and Ben Please, on de Bernieres’ life has been considerable.
He so enjoyed the experience of creating the new album that he has already gone on to record more music and hopes to make at least four.
While at the book festival he also hosted an event where he discussed his latest novel So Much Life Left Over.
This year’s Wigtown Book Festival, from 21 to 30 September, is a landmark for an event that has grown from small beginnings to be one of Scotland’s best-loved festivals.
The line up of guests includes fiction writers, poets, broadcasters, philosophers, countryside lovers, historians and many more.
There will also be a series of events as special celebrations for the 20thfestival. These include panel discussions offering writers’ perspectives on how Scotland has changed in the past two decades and what Europe will look like 20 years from now.
The festival is supported by Dumfries and Galloway Council, EventScotland part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate, Creative Scotland and The Holywood Trust.
For full details of Wigtown Book Festival go to wigtownbookfestival.com.
- Festival goers will also be warmly invited to attend another colourful regional event – The Kirkcudbright Festival of Light, which will be taking place in Scotland’s Artists’ Town from 5 to 14 October – see www.kirkcudbrightlight.com.
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