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Welcome to the Dorchester Literary Festival

THE 2019 FESTIVAL IS NOW COMING TO A CLOSE...

We have had a fantastic festival with an incredible array of writers all of whom have entertained and enlightened us in different ways. You can download the programme as a PDF file here. Now we have just one amazing event left - former poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy will be joining us on Saturday 16th November at 7.00 pm at Thomas Hardye's School Theatre to talk about her latest work. This promises to be a truly memorable close to our festival. There are still a few tickets left, available from this website or the Dorchester TIC. We hope to see you there.

If you can't make it, why not join us as a Friend and make sure you don't miss out on any of the great events next year while you help support our festival. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Paul Atterbury and Janet Gleeson

Festival Directors

Latest News

Kerry Daynes event cancelled due to illness

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2019 Gallery

A N Wilson

A N Wilson

A N Wilson

A N Wilson

A N Wilson signing

A N Wilson signing

A N Wilson signing

A N Wilson signing

Adam Nicolson and Jason Goodwin in conversation

Adam Nicolson and Jason Goodwin in conversation

Adam Nicolson and Jason Goodwin in conversation

Adam Nicolson and Jason Goodwin in conversation

Alexander McCall Smith on stage

Alexander McCall Smith on stage

Alexander McCall Smith on stage

Alexander McCall Smith on stage

Alexander McCall Smith signing

Alexander McCall Smith signing

Alexander McCall Smith signing

Alexander McCall Smith signing

Alexander McCall Smith with Co-Directors Janet Gleeson and Paul Atterbury

Alexander McCall Smith with Co-Directors Janet Gleeson and Paul Atterbury

Alexander McCall Smith with Co-Directors Janet Gleeson and Paul Atterbury

Alexander McCall Smith with Co-Directors Janet Gleeson and Paul Atterbury

Dom Joly and Danny Danziger

Dom Joly and Danny Danziger

Dom Joly and Danny Danziger

Dom Joly and Danny Danziger

Dom Joly and John Shepherd

Dom Joly and John Shepherd

Dom Joly and John Shepherd

Dom Joly and John Shepherd

Dom Joly and the DLF Car

Dom Joly and the DLF Car

Dom Joly and the DLF Car

Dom Joly and the DLF Car

Dorchester Literary Festival Co Directors Paul Atterbury and Janet Gleeson with the courtesy car provided by Mercedes-Benz of Dorchester

Dorchester Literary Festival Co Directors Paul Atterbury and Janet Gleeson with the courtesy car provided by Mercedes-Benz of Dorchester

Dorchester Literary Festival Co Directors Paul Atterbury and Janet Gleeson with the courtesy car provided by Mercedes-Benz of Dorchester

Dorchester Literary Festival Co Directors Paul Atterbury and Janet Gleeson with the courtesy car provided by Mercedes-Benz of Dorchester

Festival audience

Festival audience

Festival audience

Festival audience

Fiona Countess of Carnarvon

Fiona Countess of Carnarvon

Fiona Countess of Carnarvon

Fiona Countess of Carnarvon

Fiona Davison and Vanessa Berridge in conversation

Fiona Davison and Vanessa Berridge in conversation

Fiona Davison and Vanessa Berridge in conversation

Fiona Davison and Vanessa Berridge in conversation

Fiona, Countess of Carnarvon on stage

Fiona, Countess of Carnarvon on stage

Fiona, Countess of Carnarvon on stage

Fiona, Countess of Carnarvon on stage

Henrietta Lovell - the Rare Tea Lady talking tea

Henrietta Lovell - the Rare Tea Lady talking tea

Henrietta Lovell - the Rare Tea Lady talking tea

Henrietta Lovell - the Rare Tea Lady talking tea

Henrietta Lovell - the Rare Tea Lady talking tea

Henrietta Lovell - the Rare Tea Lady talking tea

Henrietta Lovell - the Rare Tea Lady talking tea

Henrietta Lovell - the Rare Tea Lady talking tea

Joa Studholme on using colour in the home

Joa Studholme on using colour in the home

Joa Studholme on using colour in the home

Joa Studholme on using colour in the home

John Wright The Forager's Calendar

John Wright The Forager's Calendar

John Wright The Forager's Calendar

John Wright The Forager's Calendar

Jon Copley - underwater explorer

Jon Copley - underwater explorer

Jon Copley - underwater explorer

Jon Copley - underwater explorer

Jon Copley explains the mysteries of the deep ocean

Jon Copley explains the mysteries of the deep ocean

Jon Copley explains the mysteries of the deep ocean

Jon Copley explains the mysteries of the deep ocean

Kate Williams on The Rival Queens

Kate Williams on The Rival Queens

Kate Williams on The Rival Queens

Kate Williams on The Rival Queens

Leo McKinstry

Leo McKinstry

Leo McKinstry

Leo McKinstry

Martin Kemp on stage with Paul Atterbury

Martin Kemp on stage with Paul Atterbury

Martin Kemp on stage with Paul Atterbury

Martin Kemp on stage with Paul Atterbury

Prue Leith and Steve Harris

Prue Leith and Steve Harris

Prue Leith and Steve Harris

Prue Leith and Steve Harris

Prue Leith and young fans

Prue Leith and young fans

Prue Leith and young fans

Prue Leith and young fans

Prue Leith on stage

Prue Leith on stage

Prue Leith on stage

Prue Leith on stage

Raynor Winn in conversation with Alexandra Heminsley

Raynor Winn in conversation with Alexandra Heminsley

Raynor Winn in conversation with Alexandra Heminsley

Raynor Winn in conversation with Alexandra Heminsley

Raynor Winn on stage

Raynor Winn on stage

Raynor Winn on stage

Raynor Winn on stage

Sabrina Ghayour and Jason Goodwin

Sabrina Ghayour and Jason Goodwin

Sabrina Ghayour and Jason Goodwin

Sabrina Ghayour and Jason Goodwin

Simon Heffer with Paul Atterbury

Simon Heffer with Paul Atterbury

Simon Heffer with Paul Atterbury

Simon Heffer with Paul Atterbury

Sir Tim Waterstone in conversation with Emma Howard

Sir Tim Waterstone in conversation with Emma Howard

Sir Tim Waterstone in conversation with Emma Howard

Sir Tim Waterstone in conversation with Emma Howard

The Festival Audience 2019

The Festival Audience 2019

The Festival Audience 2019

The Festival Audience 2019

The Festival Audience 2019

The Festival Audience 2019

The Festival Audience 2019

The Festival Audience 2019

The Festival Audience 2019

The Festival Audience 2019

The Festival Audience 2019

The Festival Audience 2019

Tim Pears

Tim Pears

Tim Pears

Tim Pears

Tracy Chevalier talking to Sir Tim Waterstone in the Green Room

Tracy Chevalier talking to Sir Tim Waterstone in the Green Room

Tracy Chevalier talking to Sir Tim Waterstone in the Green Room

Tracy Chevalier talking to Sir Tim Waterstone in the Green Room

Tristan Gooley talks about natural navigation

Tristan Gooley talks about natural navigation

Tristan Gooley talks about natural navigation

Tristan Gooley talks about natural navigation

Victoria Hislop in conversation with Alexandra Heminsley

Victoria Hislop in conversation with Alexandra Heminsley

Victoria Hislop in conversation with Alexandra Heminsley

Victoria Hislop in conversation with Alexandra Heminsley

Victoria Hislop on her latest novel - Those Who Are Loved

Victoria Hislop on her latest novel - Those Who Are Loved

Victoria Hislop on her latest novel - Those Who Are Loved

Victoria Hislop on her latest novel - Those Who Are Loved

This Year's Events

Carol Ann Duffy Sincerity
16th November 2019 at 7:00 pm

Feedback

I enjoyed my festival event in Dorchester very much. What a friendly welcome the audience gave me! Good luck with future festivals -- and well done.

Val McDermid
Feedback From 2017 Festival

Thank YOU for hosting us so brilliantly on Sunday. Dad and I had a great time and were both really impressed by the very smooth running of your festival. It was a total pleasure being there with you, Helen, and the team. Congrats to all concerned on a job well done. It was fun to be a part of it.

Ben Holden
Feedback From 2016 Festival

I very much enjoyed the whole occasion, and want to thank you for all your hospitality.

Jamie McKendrick
Feedback From 2017 Festival

Thank you very much for such a warm welcome and lovely (huge...) audience...Emma made the whole event such an easy pleasure for me.

Joanna Trollope
Feedback From 2018 Festival

We thoroughly enjoyed the Literary Festival again this year and eagerly await the next one...Thank you for bringing a great event to Dorchester.

Christina Hicks
Feedback From 2016 Festival

Thank you for asking me to take part in the Hardy Today event. I enjoyed it very much.

Virginia Astley
Feedback From 2017 Festival

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