Falmouth Book Festival David Baddiel chef Rick Stein

The festival which runs until October 20, is taking place at The Poly and Princess Pavilion.

There will also be events for children at the weekend, as well as workshops and performances in association with local schools.

Workshops on creative writing, poetry, illustration, the Cornish language, and more.

Highlights including comedian and author David Baddiel, best-selling crime author Val McDermid in conversation, chef Rick Stein, Radio Three presenter Petroc Trelawney, The Times rock critic Will Hodgkinson on his new book about reclusive ‘superstar’ Lawrence and Gered Mankowitz one of the most celebrated photographers in the history of popular music.

The festival starts on tonight with political satire from everyone’s favourite “Tory” MP Rosie Holt. The event starts at 7pm at The Poly so you’ll have to hurry.

Rosie became a viral sensation over lockdown when she created satirical videos of a *fake* politician whom many people still mistake as real. She’ll also be talking about her book Why We Were Right, and how studying the drivel spoken by politicians has helped harness the power of laughter in a post-satire world.

Tomorrow, October 15 at The Poly at 7pm will be number one bestselling crime writer Val McDermid in conversation.

This October sees the publication of Silent Bones, the seventh book in the iconic Karen Pirie thriller series, which was recently turned into a major ITV adaptation starring Lauren Lyle.

On Wednesday October 16, things get all spooky with 13 Cornish Ghost Stories at 7pm, at The Poly.

Join Keith Wallis host of ‘The Piskie Trap’ – a podcast exploring the folklore, history and legends of Cornwall –talks to some of the authors who have contributed to the recently published book 13 Cornish Ghost Stories including Emily Barr, Liz Fenwick and Emma Cowell.

Together they will be discussing their literary inspirations, the inherent ghostliness of Cornwall and the rich folkloric past that some of the stories in the collection draw upon.

David Baddiel is in conversation at the Princess Pavilion at 7pm on October 17 talking about his new book: My Family, The Memoir.

On the surface, David Baddiel’s childhood was fairly standard: a lower-middle-class Jewish family living in an ordinary house in north-west London. But David came to realise that his mother was in fact not ordinary at all.

Having escaped extermination by fleeing Nazi Germany as a child, she was desperate to make her life count, which took the form of a passionate, decades-long affair with a golfing memorabilia salesman. David’s detailing of the affair leads to the inescapable conclusion that Sarah Baddiel was a cross between Jack Niklaus and Erica Jong.

Meanwhile, as Baddiel investigates his family’s past, his father’s dementia is making him moodier and more disinhibited, with an even greater penchant for obscenity. As with his mother’s affair, there is both comedy and poignancy to be found: laughter is a constant presence, capable of transforming the darkest of experiences into something redemptive.

At 6.30pm on October 18, Rick Stein in conversation about his latest book to accompany the major new BBC2 series, Rick Stein’s Food Stories, an exciting collection of new classics that celebrate modern Britain.

At 12pm on October 19, at The Poly, Jennifer Cox lifts the lid on why Women Are Angry and how women have been conditioned to repress anger, the impact this has on their physical and mental health and what they can do about it.

Trelawny's Cornwall, part memoir, part history, is an exploration of Cornwall, past present and future is at The Poly at 2pm October 19.

Monique Roffey will discuss Passiontide the electrifying new novel from the Costa-winning author of The Mermaid of Black Conch at 4pm on October 19 at The Poly The son of John Le Carre, Nick Harkaway: reflects on his father’s legacy at 6pm on October 19 at The Poly.

He reintroduces the legendary British spy, George Smiley, to modern audiences in his gripping new novel Karla’s Choice.

Cathy Rentzenbrink, author of the acclaimed novel Everyone is Still Alive and several works of non-fiction including the Sunday Times bestseller The Last Act of Love, will be talking about her latest novel An Ordinary Time at The Poly on October 20 at 12pm.

On Saturday Will Hodgkinson will be talking about his new book Street Level Superstar about indie band legend Lawrence of two of the best bands you’ve never heard of, Felt and Denim.

Lawrence is described as the greatest pop star who never made it, his dreams of glory thwarted by bad luck and self-sabotage. His first band Felt released ten albums and ten singles in the 80s. His next band Denim signed to EMI, and in 1997, their song 'Summer Smash' became Radio 1's Single of the Week. Then Princess Diana was killed in a car crash. All copies were melted down and depression, addiction and homelessness followed... but Lawrence never gave up.

In Street-Level Superstar, Will follows Lawrence as he rebuilds his life. As they walk together down rain-soaked streets, Will tells the story of Britain's most eccentric cult star.

On Sunday October 20, Will returns to interview another rock legend Gered Mankowitz at The Poly at 3.30pm.

Gered Mankowitz is one of the most celebrated photographers in the history of popular music and has created enduring and defining images of Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, Marianne Faithfull and many other iconic stars.

Finally, the festival wraps up with Daisy Goodwin on Diva – The Legend of Maria Callas at The Poly at 5pm on Sunday.

For more information, the full line-up and to buy tickets go to www.falmouthbookfestival.com

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