The Northern Ireland public can indulge in their love of literature at a series of free events in public libraries across the province from 7 – 12 February 2011. 

Speaking of Books… is a week-long programme of events organised by Libraries NI. It features a selection of award winning authors, as well as some upcoming local authors, who will read from their own novels and take questions from the audience. 

The line-up boasts names such as Eoin McNamee, Ruth Dudley Edwards, Carlo Gébler and Ian Sansom. Others include Tara West, Tanya Ravenswater, Lesley Richardson, Christina McKenna, Bernie McGill and Martina Devlin. 

One of the main highlights of the week will be a panel discussion debating Ireland’s greatest writers.  The panel will be chaired by Sean McMahon and panellists will be Carlo Gébler, Anita Robinson, Garbhan Downey and Brian McGilloway.

The programme of events will include a talk by Carol Brontë, wife of Wallace Brontë, who is the eldest member of the Brontë family living in Ireland. 

The Banyan Theatre Company will also delight family audiences with a puppet version of The Emperor’s New Clothes.

Mairead Ferguson, Cultural Specialist Manager with Libraries NI said: “Libraries NI recognises that culture makes a valuable contribution to the life of Northern Ireland and that public libraries have an important role to play in this.

We are committed to delivering a wide and varied range of literary events throughout our network of libraries and believe it can yield real benefits for local people.

We are hoping that such high profile events packed in to one week will be a big draw in encouraging people to come along.”

For a detailed listing of events open or download the pdf file below.