Author Will Self has been announced as the Golding Speaker at the 2017 Marlborough Literature Festival. The Golding speaker opens the festival each year, and is sponsored by William Golding Ltd, in recognition of Golding’s links with the Wiltshire town. Golding grew up in Marlborough, attended Marlborough Grammar School, and later used Marlborough (renamed as Stillbourne) as the setting for his novel The Pyramid.
Self, the writer of ten novels, including the Booker-Prize-shortlisted Umbrella, is also well-known for his journalism and frequent media appearances. His latest novel, Phone, is due out in 2017. Judy (Carver) Golding, Golding’s daughter and CEO of William Golding Ltd commented, ‘A brilliant choice – I look forward to hearing such an engaged and engaging thinker.’
The Marlborough Literature Festival begins on 29th September 2017.