Brought to you by the University of Leicester - Literary Leicester is among the city’s leading annual festivals of the written and spoken word - all completely FREE! litles   Join us for four days of exciting and stimulating sessions for all the family. This year, hear two of the country’s leading writers, Linton Kwesi Johnson and Caryl Phillips, in conversation. Old friends, they will be discussing their lives in writing, the important role which writing of all kinds can play in an ever-changing world, and many other topics.   Fantasy Fiction Day, asks ‘Why Do We Need Fantasy Fiction?’ This panel event will kick off with a short talk from leading Oxford University Tolkien scholar, Stuart Lee (author of, among other works, The Keys to Middle Earth). Joining him thereafter will be acclaimed biographer Robert Douglas-Fairhurst, who wrote this year’s bestselling biography of Lewis Carroll and ‘Alice’; and Juliet E. McKenna, fantasy author and founder of ‘The Write Fantastic’, which promotes science fiction and fantasy writing. Louis de Bernières will discuss his latest book - The Dust that Falls from Dreams - set before and during World War One which has been described as "A feast of a novel…peculiarly de Bernières …very much a hit" (The Times).   EMILY-GRAVETT-BESTLegendary Withnail and I film director and author Bruce Robinson discusses his new book, They All Love Jack, about his long obsession with Jack the Ripper, followed by a showing of Withnail and I. Simon de Montfort will debate Magna Carta, James Joyce will be remembered, there will be children’s workshops and an appearance by Emily Gravett – prize winning author and illustrator - and much more. There will also be vibrant and dynamic fringe events offering fascinating insights into the University’s research. Find out more at: www.le.ac.uk/literaryleicester Facebook: /LiteraryLeicester Twitter: @LiteraryLeic