BRATTLEBORO — “The Brattleboro Literary Festival has gotten so big that it has become more difficult to promote what there is to see,” says Sandy Rouse, the festival's organizer and co-founder.
“We are bringing in 52 authors for 40 events, and that is not including our local authors who are part of the open reading hosted by Write Action, which brings participants up to 60,” she explains.
From Oct. 2 through 5, the 2014 Brattleboro Literary Festival hosts authors of everything from international bestsellers to local and regional favorites for a four-day, free celebration of the written word.
Now in its 13th year, the festival is an eagerly anticipated event in southern Vermont expected to attract 4,000 to 5,000 festival-goers to downtown Brattleboro,” Rouse says.
The festival includes readings, panel discussions, talks, workshops, a poetry slam, and the return of the popular Literary Death Match.
Writers will read at several venues within easy walking distance: the Robert H. Gibson River Garden, Centre Congregational Church, Latchis 4 Theater, Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, and Mystery on Main Street books.
There's a lot going on, and several sessions run concurrently. Visit the festival's website to plan your day.
Some of the more celebrated participants for this year's festival include Pulitzer Prize- and T.S. Eliot Prize-winning poet Paul Muldoon; award-winning environmentalist Rick Bass; and NPR personality Ophira Eisenberg, who hosts the popular trivia show, “Ask Me Another.”
Pulitzer Prize- and National Book Award-winning historian Joseph Ellis will read from his latest book, “Revolutionary Summer: The Birth of American Independence” (Deckle Edge, 2013).
“While historical works these days have gotten pretty long-winded, Ellis writes incredibly tight history. Do we need things like dental records reported?” asks Rouse.
Award-winning biographers Fred Kaplan and Margaret Hogan will delve into their works on John Quincy and Louisa Adams.
Other nonfiction draws include the letters of Robert Frost as discussed in a panel of Frost scholars; Jay Parini speaking on his book “Jesus: The Human Face of God” (New Harvest, 2013); and Leslie Jamison, who will read from her book of essays, “The Empathy Exams” (Graywolf Press, 2014).
Rouse notes that “Jamison is quite a sensation these days. Her book [was] on the spring New York Times bestseller list for several weeks, which is unheard of for a book of essays. But she has written such an unusual volume that it has caught the public's imagination. And I don't think she is even 30.”
Jamison (www.lesliejamison.com) also is giving a workshop at Marlboro College during the festival.
There's a big lineup of poets, “of course,” Rouse says. In addition to Muldoon, 10 poets are reading this year, including Afaa M. Weaver, winner of this year's Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award; Ocean Vuong, this year's Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry fellowship winners; and Bianca Stone, author of “Someone Else's Wedding Vows” (Tin House/Octopus Books, 2014) and illustrator of “Antigonick” (New Directions, 2012), a collaboration with Anne Carson.
Stone also is granddaughter of the late poet and festival author Ruth Stone.
“Bianca is the third generation of poets following her celebrated grandmother's footsteps, and we're glad to have her as part of the festival,” says Rouse.
Rouse explains this year's festival offers more fiction than it ever has. Authors include such award-winning and bestselling writers as Andre Dubus III, Ann Hood, and Paula McLain.
“About half the world has read McClain's 'The Paris Wife' (Random House, 2011), and Hood is almost as popular,” says Rouse. “Dubus is returning again; his lively presence makes him a crowd-pleaser.”
Young adult fiction gets its due
For the first time, the Brattleboro Literary Festival is highlighting works written for young adults.
As more adults are reading works such as the “Harry Potter” and “Twilight” series, written for younger readers, this genre of fiction is enjoying a booming popularity with grownups too.
Acclaimed authors Tim Federle, K.L. Going, and Blake Nelson join Vermont authors Tim Weed and Don Bredes, who have written for young adults.
“Going and Nelson have had movies made from their works,” says Rouse. “Federle used to be a Broadway dancer and he uses his background to tell the story of a 13-year-old who leaves a small town where he was tormented and bullied to get a part in a Broadway show. He stresses the theme of believing in yourself. Federle is an amazing personality that is fun to watch and be with.”
'Kids Living Green' and 'Words and Video'
The festival also presents Kids Living Green, a series of events featuring authors with books touching on sustainable living and nature.
But there's more to the Brattleboro Literary Festival than readings.
The Center for Digital Arts will present “Words and Video,” an exhibition of short films and video art projects exploring the intersection of language/text/poetry and moving images.
Landmark College will host a student poetry slam with guest judge Bianca Stone.
The Vermont Antiquarian Booksellers Association show will offer for sale rare books, antique maps, prints, postcards, and ephemera.
And what would the festival be without the return of the Literary Death Match?
As the festival notes on its website, this contest “marries the literary and performative aspects of Def Poetry Jam, rapier-witted quips of 'American Idol''s judging (without any meanness), and the ridiculousness and hilarity of Double Dare, and will feature an all-star cast of judges and readers.”
Rouse might feel deserved pride in the variety and quality of this years festival's roster, but she's not about to rest on her laurels. She says she'll be deep in planning next year's literary festival as soon as this one wraps.
The reason is that the more prominent, sought-after writers have tight schedules. Fortunately, Rouse says, Brattleboro itself is a draw to the writers.
“I think we're able to attract such prestigious names because writers are eager to travel to New England in the fall, and on top of that, many like Brattleboro a lot: It's a warm, friendly, small town offering a much different ambiance than the big cities or universities,” she says.
The festival, presented by the Downtown Alliance, is sponsored by Marlboro College, the Vermont Humanities Council, and Vermont Public Radio.