Neilson Hays To Host Literature Festival In November | Thailand Tatler

Authors, sponsors and organisers take turns speaking at the press conference for the Neilson Hays Bangkok Literature Festival

Celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, Bangkok’s historic library, Neilson Hays, in collaboration with the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture (OCAC), is organising its first-ever Literature Festival next month. The Festival, which takes place on November 16-17 in various locations, highlights talks, panel discussions and readings, as well as entertainment and activities, such as film screenings, workshops and an arts and crafts market. It’s an event no true follower of the arts will dare miss, and here’s what you need to know about it:

Poster for the Neilson Hays Bangkok Literature Festival 2019

The Festival takes place across four venues: the Neilson Hays Library, the British Club, Chulalongkorn University and Chakrabongse Villas. On both days, events will run concurrently in the daytime between the library and its neighbouring British Club, followed by parallel events in the evening between the library and Chulalongkorn University on November 16 and the library and Chakrabongse Villas on November 17—so choose your events wisely!

Day events at the library and the British club include panel discussions and talks on topics related to literature, such as oppression, gender, culture and communication, as well as readings and performances for adults, children and all ages. As the sun sets, there will be film screening and talks as well as talks over dinner. For a detailed rundown of the programme, click here. 

American Pulitzer Prize winner Adam Johnson Award-winning Japanese author Kanako Nishi

The most exciting thing about the Neilson Hays Literature Festival is the lineup of speakers, great literary minds of today, from all over the world. So far, nearly 30 speakers, Thai and international, have been confirmed. They include American Pulitzer Prize winner Adam Johnson, SEA Write Award winner Jidanun Lueangpiansamut, Japanese author Kanako Nishi, director and journalist Kong Rithdee, artist and author Oat Montien and many, many more. For the full speaker lineup, click here. 

The daytime events at the library and the British Club are free of charge with admission offered on a first-come, first-served basis. To guarantee yourself a seat to all the events you want to be a part of, you can purchase a day pass for 600 baht. There are also certain special events that require advance registration or separate admission. All tickets can be purchased or reserved here.

For more information about the Neilson Hays Bangkok Literature Festival, visit web.neilsonhayslibrary.com/literature-festival or contact [email protected] or 02-233-1731.

People read for different reasons: some for knowledge, others to escape, others, still, to empathise. All would, however, agree on the remedial qualities of the written word to heal, to unite and to inspire. Given that books were the genesis of the founding of our Library Association, it seems apt that 150 years later we shall be celebrating the power of letters, especially when they are more needed and important today than ever.

— Nalin Vanasin, president of Neilson Hays Library

Related: 10 Books Behind The Movies To Read