One of the biggest names in contemporary literature, Captain Corelli's Mandolin author Louis de Bernières, will be at the University of Aberdeen on 13 March 2003 to help launch the third Word - University of Aberdeen Writers Festival (16-18 May 2003).
The author will attend a press reception at which the programme for this year's festival will be announced, and will then give a public reading in the University's Arts Lecture Theatre.
It is expected that the writer will read from new work, always the subject of much speculation following the huge success of his earlier novel, which was made into a film in 2001.
Alan Spence, Word's Artistic Director and Professor in Creative Writing at the University, said:
"We are delighted to welcome Louis to Aberdeen to help launch what is shaping up to be a fantastic international programme for Word 2003. This follows the precedent set with the launch of the last Word Festival, when Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney read to an audience of some 600 people. Louis de Bernières, another internationally renowned literary figure, is sure of an equally warm welcome, and guarantees a similarly high profile event."
Word is now the second largest literary festival in Scotland. The programme of events for Word 2003 will remain a closely-guarded secret until the launch on 13 March, but includes readings, lectures, debates, a unique word and music event, workshops, exhibitions and screenings. The writers taking part come from all over the UK, Europe and other parts of the world, and include previous winners of the Booker Prize, Commonwealth Writers Prize and Creative Scotland awards.
The programme will be announced by Alan Spence at a press reception at 11.30am, to which all media are cordially invited. Media are also invited to stay on for the reading by Louis de Bernières.