The Singapore Writers Festival returns this October, celebrating all things literary with a line-up of programmes and authors, including renowned travel writer Paul Theroux, whose novel was once banned in Singapore.
The American novelist will be headlining the festival — a welcome return for the man who taught in the English department of the National University of Singapore from 1968 to 1971. He gained some notoriety for his 1973 novel Saint Jack — an introspective into Singapore’s seedy underbelly — which was banned for 30 years. Its subsequent film adaptation was also banned by the government, even though it was filmed in secret in Singapore.
Other than Theroux, other literary figures such as social critic Naomi Wolf, sci-fi author Raymond E. Feist and humanitarian essayist Barry Lopez are also invited to grace the event. Literary seminars in other languages will also be held, with authors from India, Malaysia and China included in the lineup.
Nearly 200 local and international writers have been invited and are expected to participate in over 250 events including poetry readings, lectures and panel discussions in the 17th edition of the festival, which runs with the theme ‘The Prospect Of Beauty’ this year.
Singapore Writers Festival 2014 will take place from Oct. 31 to Nov. 9 at the Singapore Management University Campus and various surrounding venues including The Arts House, the National Museum of Singapore and more. Tickets now on sale at Sistic; further details and updates on their official website.
Photo: Singapore Writers Festival Facebook page
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