The 2009 Du Maurier Festival takes place from Thursday 7th to Saturday 16th May, inclusive. It will be tricky to follow the success of last year's Festival, which saw more tickets sold than for any other year. So, thank you to all of you who came to the Festival and helped to make it the best yet!

With its gorgeous Cornwall location, the superb community events and the friendly, welcoming atmosphere throughout, the Du Maurier Festival has been called the 'second best Festival in Britain' - which of course, means that it's the Best Festival in England - with 'Hay' being over the Welsh border!

Subscribe (free) to the Enewsletter to hear more about the Du Maurier Festival; this year's events and get some early news on arrangements for next year's Festival! The combination of professional names and local events makes the Du Maurier Festival one of the most popular of its kind in the country. - There's something in the Festival for everyone!

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Booking Information

Booking information can be found here

Programme

A full programme of events can be found here

You can download a PDF of the programme here (you will need Acrobat Reader to do so).

Directions

Find details of the festival venues here

Contact details

Full festival contact details can be found here

Roger McGough's eagerly-awaited new collection, That Awkward Age is a powerful testament to the miraculous in the everyday. In it, he addresses Alzheimer's and wrestles with mortality, and resolves (and fails) to live every day as if it were his last. He is at the Festival Marquee on Tuesday 12th May. Book now. Just where and what really is Middle England? That is the subject of the new book from radio DJ and bestselling travel writer, Stuart Maconie, Adventures on the High Teas, and he will be appearing at the Du Maurier Theatre on Saturday 16th May at 2pm. Book now.

Patrick Gale is the author several novels, including Notes from an Exhibition, which was the winner of the nationwide Independent Booksellers' Book Prize 2008, as voted for by independent bookshop customers. His work is dominated by two main themes: families "the subject without end" and character "a kind of ventriloquism". His novels are empathetic, beautifully written and compelling. Patrick will be discussing his latest book, The Whole Day Through, at the Du Maurier Theatre on May 14th. Book now. At the same venue on May 13th is Frances Osborne, who discusses her intriguing biography, The Bolter, published by Virago, which been selected for the Richard and Judy Book Club 2009. It tells the story of Frances' great grandmother, a well-known London socialite and her fall from grace following First World War heartbreak. Book now.

Will Self has been described by noe other than the great JG Ballard as: 'Brilliantly original; one of those rare writers whose imaginations change for ever the way we see the world'. At the Festival Marquee on 15th May, Self shares his thoughts on writing and life, and answers questions from the audience. Expect insights that may incite. Book now. In a light-hearted and innovative book and music event, Louis de Bernières talks about and reads from his latest novel, A Partisan's Daughter. To complement the readings, Louis and Ilone Antonius-Jones will perform Serbian/Eastern European music, some Bob Dylan as well as classical tunes, on a variety of instruments. Book now.

Ever wondered why the shower curtain always billows inwards? Or why 'non-iron' shirts don't need ironing? In a fascinating illustrated talk, Adam Hart-Davis, author of Just Another Day, provides the answers to these and many other everyday questions such as: What is the real function of toothpaste? How did Roman lavatories worked? Why do ice cubes crack in your drink? He will be at the Festival Marquee on Friday 8th May. Book now. In her new book, About Time, the charming and irrepressible writer and broadcaster Irma Kurtz takes a funny and insightful look at a subject that may be engrossing us all before long: growing old. She will be at the Festival Marquee on Friday 15th May. Book now. In her book, My Judy Garland Life, Susie examines the strange phenomenon of hero worship. She delves deeper into her obsession at the Du Maurier Theatre on Wednesday 13th may. Book now.

See the full programme of featured events here