Now in its seventh year, the Asia House Festival of Asian Literature is the only UK festival dedicated to pan-Asian writings, cultures, authors and peoples and will take place at Asia House and other prestigious cultural venues around the capital in May. A stimulating mix of literary talks and salons, topical debate, cookery, manga, samurai and yoga sessions from renowned authors, performers and poets – home-grown and from across Asia – come together in this truly unique festival.
With a range of events covering more than 15 countries, the Festival this year widens its remit to include authors from Turkey, Syria and parts of the Middle East, appearing alongside authors writing about Afghanistan, Burma, China, India, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, and Britain.
The 2013 theme
The theme for 2013 is ‘Freedom’, in many contexts: freedom of expression, education, travel, justice, the freedom to read the truth and to live in our chosen ways. Globetrotter Michael Palin launches the Festival in May with a hotly anticipated talk about his travels in Asia, political heavy weights Will Hutton, Jonathan Fenby and Gerard Lemos re-evaluate the ‘Chinese Dream’, while Colin Pyle shares tales from an exhilarating 18,000 km motorbike ride around China and Man Booker and Man Asia Prize shortlisted author Tan Twan Eng takes the long view on Malaysia’s turbulent road to independence, the subject of his beguiling novel, The Garden of Evening Mists.
But not all events will focus on ‘freedom’, some will be just for fun – look out for Manga comics and Samurai swords from Japan, Punch and Judy-Bollywood style, award-winning food and yoga for families. A day will be devoted to Burma – to its style and poetry as well as a discussion on ‘What Next for Burma?’, British-Asian “coolness” will be hotly debated by a panel including BBC Radio’s Nihal and Bobby Friction, the relationship between cricket and the rise of India will be examined and a Literary Salon will introduce Asia’s rising stars.
Get involved
This year we’ve joined up with Asia House to find a group of Young Reporters and Young Producers for the 2013 Asia House Festival of Asian Literature. Read how you can get involved here.
Win a chance for your reading group to meeting Tan Twan Eng over tea in London. Find out how to enter here.
