Read a detailed review of the festival by local author J C Briggs

We live in “interesting times” which are very difficult to understand and to live with, we cannot even trust that truth itself exists any more. So our Keynote Book ‘The Price of Life‘ by Jenny Kleeman. explored the monetary value that the powers that be put on an individual life. What does it mean for our humanity when we crunch the numbers to decide who gets the expensive life-saving drugs, and who misses out?

However Sedbergh Booktown is first a small, rural backwater sort of a place and we wanted our visitors to have lots of fun so we had a series of ‘Deadly afternoons’ with Mark Bridgeman, J. C. Briggs and Julia Chapman exploring unexplained deaths in the Dales. We dipped into history with Sue Millard explaining ‘Reasons Why Not to Write a Historic Novel‘ and Roger Treglown, a super expert when it comes to old books, sharing his expertise.

American lawyer Kris Butler explained how Temperance campaigners sought to stop people drinking by producing ‘Drink Maps’ to show those tempted by the demon drink where to avoid…….!

For the sort of person who was interested in the magical and strange there was ‘The Book of Doors’ with author Gareth Brown, and ‘Strange Books’ from Tartarus Press (the infernal region in Greek Mythology) and Chris’s Magic Show entertained families.

Lastly we explored the real world of mountains and lakes, rocks and trees with geologist turned psychotherapist Ruth Allen who showed us how and why the natural world works for our mental well-being. Then there was a new Wainwright film celebrating Cumbria’s great guidebook author, and speaking of guidebooks, Cicerone Press’ owners Jonathan and Lesley Williams told their story and Duncan Minshull brought together an anthology of some of the greatest ever travel writers.

Books featured in the festival are available from the official Festival Bookshop, Westwood Books.

Sedbergh England’s Booktown would like to thank the following for their contribution to the funding of the Booktown Events in 2024.

  • Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust.
    This grant is particularly to help children and local people to access educational Booktown events such as the Yoto/Carnegies Booktown Takeover for primary school children.
  • Westmorland and Furness District Council.
  • Sedbergh and District Community Fund.