For its eighth edition (8-11 September), Festival America offers a plethora of activities around literature in the Americas. There is a day for school groups on Friday 9th.
This year’s Festival America has something for everyone. Readings, talks, workshops, beautiful exhibitions and translation “jousts” are all part of the programme. Look out for several events with the Jamaican author Marlon James, winner of last year's Man Booker prize, and an evening with crime writer James Ellroy.
The Debates programme has fascinating topics ranging from the birth of a nation to the Obama years, cinema, violence, democracy, the Latino community and Black Lives Matter. Don't miss the debate on the 2016 elections on Sunday 11 at 3.
Friday 9 September is designed for school groups (primary and secondary) and is articulated around seven themes:
- American history and society
- Youth in all its forms
- Native American peoples
- American notebooks: Wide open spaces
- American notebooks: New York
- American myths and identities
- The writer factory
It concludes with a short-story competition for pupils on a theme taken from the Declaration of Independence: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
Previous festivals have provided some excellent audio and video recordings. Check out the audio and video section once the festival opens.
> Marlon James Man Booker Winner at America Festival
> Songs and Stories of an Indian Reservation
Tag(s) : "America" "festival" "James Ellroy" "literature" "politics" "school groups" "U.S. culture" "U.S. literature" "Vincennes"
