Writer, campaigner and controversialist Germaine Greer has been signed up for next year’s York Literature Festival.
Most famously author of ground-breaking book The Female Eunuch, Greer has remained a fearless and forthright commentator in the four decades since its publication in 1970.
She will be appearing at York Literature Festival 2014, speaking on The Disappearing Woman at the Royal York Hotel’s conference venue on Thursday, March 20.
Greer’s many written works include a collection of journalism, a book on Shakespeare and The Change: Woman, Ageing and The Menopause, described as “brilliant, gutsy, exhilarating” by the New York Times.
Her sequel to The Female Eunuch, The Whole Woman, was published in 1999 and argued that the feminist movement had not made enough progress.
Adept at keeping in the public eye, she has posed naked for magazines and appeared in the 2005 series of Celebrity Big Brother, walking out after complaining about the show’s bullying tactics.
“It’s fantastic that she will be in York as part of the festival. I’m really pleased that she will be here. It will be a very popular event,” said Miles Salter, director of York Literature Festival.
Constantly in demand as a critic, speaker and writer, Greer’s schedule takes her all around the world, speaking out against female genital mutilation and the repression of Aboriginal Australians.
Greer is the second high profile signing for the festival after it was revealed last month that poet Roger McGough will appear.
Lit Fest 2014
The 2014 festival will run from March 20 to 31, and will feature well known names as well as writers from the York area. Main sponsors York St John University are also supporting the Germaine Greer event.
The festival has recently secured funding from several sources: £6,000 from Community York (City of York Council money for developing community in York), £7,500 from the Arts Council and £7,745 from the Clore Duffield Foundation for a special project with young people.
“It’s a strong line-up for 2014 with some nationally recognised names from the worlds of literature, broadcasting and politics coming to York,” Miles said.
“We’re looking forward to an ambitious festival that will attract visitors to York from around the UK. It’s great to see the festival developing incrementally each year.”
In 2013, the festival had its most successful year to date, with gross ticket sales topping £10,000 for the first time.
- Tickets for the Germaine Greer event are priced at £13.00 each and are on sale from midday on November 19 via the York Theatre Royal website