2018 Festival: Let it Begin!
October 19 2018
Following a relaxed and enjoyable ‘launch party’ for Friends, sponsors, supporters and helpers which was held at Cedars Hall on Thursday 18 October, the Festival itself will begin at 6.30 pm on Friday 19 October with what promises to be a riveting opening night. David Runciman, Professor of Politics at Cambridge, warns about the current threat to the future of democracy. This challenging scenario is followed by an equally intriguing look at what ‘the American Dream’ actually stands for in today’s world. Sarah Churchwell, Professor of American Literature at the University of London, is uniquely placed to offer some fascinating insights into this topic.
As the Wells Festival of Literature Chairman, Richard Manning (pictured top left with the Mayor of Wells Celia Wride and the Lady Mayoress Sarah Wride), stated at the well-attended launch party, the 26th Festival offers an even wider range of material for literature-lovers than ever before. We are looking forward to entertaining our 2018 audiences in the superb setting of Cedars Hall with its custom-built auditorium, and we are grateful to all the Cedars staff for making the Festival team feel welcome in these magnificent new surroundings.
With thanks to photographer Charlie Glover for taking pictures at the launch party.