The 10-day Folkestone Book Festival’s second weekend features comedy, mindfulness, creative writing and Russian literature.

With author talks and thought-provoking discussions, the packed programme runs until Sunday, November 26, having been launched with a Christmas lights switch-on last weekend, although many tickets have already been snapped up.

In The Surreal Life of Leonora Carrington on Friday, November 24, at the Quarterhouse, journalist Joanna Moorhead tells how in 2006 she discovered that her father’s cousin, regarded as a black sheep, had become a national treasure in Mexico – so she set off to Mexico City to find her.

Comedian and actor Miles Jupp and food writer Damien Trench will be in conversation with Andy Miller about everything from childhood to studying divinity and what they have in common at the Quarterhouse on Saturday, November 25. There are only a handful of tickets left.

Award-winning comedian, author and agony aunt Viv Groskop has discovered the meaning of life in Russian literature. She discusses it at the end of a day filled with Russian-themed events on Sunday, November 26, in the Anna Karenina Fix.

Also part of the Russian themed final day will be Kent author and historian Helen Rappaport, a former Chatham Grammar School for Girls pupil, who will be joined by historian Victor Sebestyen for Russian Revolution on Sunday, November 26.

Looking back at the Russian revolution, including what caused it, how it evolved and the people who lived through it, they will cast new light on the period.

Helen is a passionate Victorianist and Russianist, and author of 13 books including Conspirator: Lenin in Exile and Joseph Stalin: A Biographical Companion, while Victor is a journalist and author of Twelve Days, Revolution 1956, Revolution 1989 and 1946.

The event will be chaired by Andrei Ostalski who has lived in the UK for 25 years, working for The Financial Times and the BBC World Service.

DETAILS

The Folkestone Book Festival 2017 at Folkestone Quarterhouse runs until Sunday, November 26. A ticket for all the Russian Day events costs £38. For details of all events and to book visit folkestonebookfest.com or call 01303 760750.