The seventh annual Dublin Writers Festival changes its focus this year to put Irish talent centre stage. This year's programme was launched in the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin last night.
Although the line-up still features strong international representation, Irish writers such as Dermot Bolger, Sebastian Barry, Nick Laird, Claire Kilroy, Chris Binchy, Ronan Bennett, Jack Harte and Mary O'Donnell are among those who will be taking part in this festival of readings, discussions, lectures and performance from June 16th to 19th.
A biography seminar with Adam Feinstein, who wrote the first comprehensive English biography of Pablo Neruda, and Sarah Churchwell, who examined the biographical construction of Marilyn Monroe by the filmstar's various biographers, will take place at the Project Theatre in Dublin's Temple Bar.
Language and translation are themes of the festival, and the poets Fiona Sampson, Tomaz Salamun and Paolo Ruffilli, who have all translated each others' work, will read at the Project on June 17th.
The festival will also focus on Germany and will feature Hugo Hamilton, Thomas Brussig, Juli Zeh and Christoph Hein. For more information see www.dublinwritersfestival.com