Teamwork Arts and the British Council in Delhi hosted an exclusive preview of the much-anticipated JLF London at the British Library 2024, which will celebrate its 11th year in the British capital. Organized by Teamwork Arts, the preview provided a glimpse into the diverse and highly relevant sessions planned for the festival, set to take place at the British Library from June 7th to 9th, 2024. JLF London at the British Library brings the vibrant energy of the iconic annual Jaipur Literature Festival to London, offering a rich blend of literary and cultural dialogues.
The program for JLF London at the British Library 2024 promises a rich tapestry of sessions spanning literature, history, science, and culture, featuring globally known authors, historians, scientists, and artists. Attendees can look forward to engaging dialogues that address contemporary issues and explore diverse perspectives.
In the session “Forgotten Masters: Indian Painting for the East India Company,” writer, historian, and Festival Co-director William Dalrymple will celebrate the supremely gifted Indian artists commissioned by East India Company officials in the late 18th century. These paintings, capturing the beauty of India’s natural world and the social realities of the time, showcase the unique styles and agency of Indian artists from the 1770s to 1857. The session will be introduced by Malini Roy, Head of Visual Arts at the British Library and a specialist in South Asian art.
Nobel laureate Venki Ramakrishnan’s new book, Why We Die, examines our fascination with and fear of death. Spanning the frontiers of biology and scientific research, Ramakrishnan questions mortality and the transformations within human physiology. He will discuss his seminal work at a session in the festival.
Vikas Swarup, author of Q & A, which was adapted into the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire, has a new novel called The Girl with the Seven Lives. In conversation with broadcaster Georgina Godwin, Swarup will discuss his writing career and the ideas and words that have shaped his craft.
Indian comedian and screenwriter Anuvab Pal will explore the British sense of humour, examining what makes the British smile and laugh, and using a comedic lens to interrogate the cultural nuances defining British identity.
The festival will also feature author and science journalist Roger Highfield and physicist Martin Rees. They will discuss Highfield’s recent book, Stephen Hawking Genius at Work, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the life and work of one of the greatest minds in modern science. They will be in conversation with competitive poker player and author Alex O’Brien.
Award-winning author and Festival Co-director Namita Gokhale and celebrated Assamese author and journalist Anuradha Sarma Pujari will discuss the invisible inhibitions and taboos on women’s social, sexual, and professional identities, and how these have impacted their breakthrough novels and writing trajectories. In conversation with journalist and author Shrabani Basu, they will highlight their literary influences and the voices of subversive women writers in the subcontinent.
Turkish-British novelist Elif Shafak will speak about her upcoming book, There Are Rivers in the Sky, an evocative narrative of one lost poem, two great rivers, and three remarkable lives connected by a single drop of water. She will be in conversation with historian and Festival Co-director William Dalrymple.
The session titled “Broken Threads: Partition Stories” will feature celebrated journalist Mishal Husain, who will share personal and historical narratives about the Partition of India and Pakistan. In conversation with podcaster and writer Anita Anand, Husain will discuss the remnants of empire, the impact on families, and the shared histories that emerged from this tumultuous period.
Following the massive global success of her award-winning novel Hamnet, celebrated writer Maggie O’Farrell returns with her brilliant new work, The Marriage Portrait. O’Farrell will discuss this latest novel, which follows the journey of Lucrezia de’ Medici in Renaissance Italy, blending historical fact with poetic fantasy, in a session with Elaine Canning, writer, editor, and literary prize director.
Booker Prize-winning author Paul Lynch will explore his novel Prophet Song, set in a dystopian Ireland, in a conversation with journalist Claire Armitstead. This session will delve into the nuances of his writing and the compelling story of a mother’s fight to keep her family together.
