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Over 300 writers from all corners of the globe will converge upon Melbourne for the Melbourne Writers’ Festival from 24 August – 2 September 2007.

There will be 37 international, 65 national and 200+ local writers from Sweden to Collingwood and ranging from social and cultural commentators, philosophers, crime writers, poets, screenwriters to historians who will participate in 10 days of literary events during Australia’s premier writers’ festival. 

With over 270 events, the MWF brings the written word to life with author readings, in-depth discussions with authors, panels, masterclasses, forums, family focused activities, debate and discussion and a number of free events at the Malthouse, the festival hub, to the Melbourne Town Hall and Storey Hall plus a number of smaller venues.

This year the festival brings to Melbourne: Clive James, Dave Eggers, Les Murray, Stephen Law, AC Grayling, Alexander McCall Smith, Louis Sachar, Karin Slaughter, Cory Doctorow, David Hewson, Victoria Glendinning, Jeffery Deaver, Nancy Huston, John Lanchester, Shane Koyczan, Norman Lebrecht, David Leavitt plus many more outstanding international, national and local writers.

One of the highlights will be the keynote address by Clive James on his latest book Cultural Amnesia, introduced by Jennifer Byrne. Clive's address will be followed by a late night session with Dave Eggers. In this special late evening opening night event, broadcaster, Tony Wilson, will talk with Dave Eggers about his life, his writing and his social activism.

The festival is introducing a new series this year – BIG IDEAS @ Storey Hall.  Commentators, academics, authors, philosophers come together to tackle some of the big issues of today. These include Nobel Laureate J M Coetzee reading from his new novel A Diary of a Bad Year; Norman Lebrecht talks music; John Pomfret and Malcolm Cook provide an insight into the new China; David Starkey gives an opinion on the future of the Monarchy and Noel Pearson discusses Indigenous policy in Australia plus others.

This year the festival is also introducing a number of free family events for primary school children and their parents. Each Saturday and Sunday morning of the festival, artists and writers will assist children as young as 5 up to 13 years of age to tell a story in words and pictures at ArtPlay's Kids' Publishing Place. A copy of the finished book will be kept in the ArtPlay Library of books by kids for kids. Plus some best loved children's authors will talk about their books and read the best parts out loud at The big family read at the Malthouse.

The popular Shallow End with Jane Clifton returns for another year of festival cabaret with a literary twist.

What to Read Next: a taste of The Age Melbourne Writers' Festival 2007 is the festival's first publication and features extracts from many festival authors. 5000 copies of the book will be distributed freely in the lead up to the festival.

'The Melbourne Writers' Festival is a chance to come together with others to talk about the ideas embedded in books, the craft of writing and the pleasures of reading, and to meet the authors behind the books', says Rosemary Cameron, Festival Director. 'Words jump off the page and become more immediate when discussed and I think audiences will enjoy the chance to talk books'.

'Importantly, it is also a place to discuss ideas and issues – social, cultural and political that are pertinent to today's society. And we have some of the best international and Australian minds on hand to discuss these very issues'. 


Melbourne Writers' Festival

24 August – 2 September 2007
Bookings:  9685 5111
Visit www.mwf.com.au for more details.