Now in its seventh year, the Asia House Festival of Asian Literature is the only UK festival dedicated to writing about Asia and Asians, from the Eastern Mediterranean to the Pacific.
The past festivals have hosted some of the stars of Asian literature along with debut and emerging authors from over 25 countries across the continent. With authors ranging from Michael Palin,Mohsin Hamid, Tan Twan Eng and Elif Shafak to new voices from Korea, Nepal and beyond, the organizers hope people will find something that piques their interest.
This year the organizers are excited to announce a widening their remit to include Turkey and parts of the Middle East. The 2013 Festival will feature authors writing about over 15 countries, including Afghanistan, Burma, China, India, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan and British Asian topics.
The theme this year is Freedom – looking at it in many contexts: freedom of expression, education, travel, justice, the freedom to read the truth and to live in our chosen ways. Pre-festival and festival events will examine censorship, corruption, gender, economies, social issues and political freedoms.
However, not all the events will focus on freedom. Some will be just for fun, with samurai swords, martial arts, Punch and Judy-Bollywood style, food, film, Manga, yoga for families and traveling Asia by two wheeler and train.
The festival will also introduce debut authors at a special Asia House Literary Salon, examine style in Burma and learn how to become rich in the new Asia.
The partnerships with the Reading Activists mentoring programme and journalism schools across London will include a young reporters scheme. Students between the ages of 13 and 15 will report on family events, while older journalism students will be reporting on the evening events. They will be interviewing authors and audience members about their experience at the Festival and will report on the website, with sound and video, on their findings.
The Festival will travel to schools in the London area with a programme of writing workshops that will culminate in a writing competition for students. The authors of the five best essays will win internships with some of the festival partners, to improve their skills, confidence and experience of the world of literature and journalism.
Event Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2013 to Wednesday, May 22, 2013
