Literature - British Council

Writer Simon Armitage speaking at the 2011 Hay Festival in Wales, as part of the British Council Series © Finn Beales.

New Literature Website

Our Contemporary Writers website has got a facelift! We now offer a new and improved Literature Team website showcasing our project work, in addition to invaluable information on contemporary writers (as always) and Literature News.

Hay Wales

Simon Armitage, Michael Morpurgo, Gillian Clarke, Germaine Greer and David Crystal appeared as part of the British Council Series at Hay Wales.

Click here to find out more about the Hay Festivals Global Partnership.

The British Council literature department facilitates cultural understanding and exchange through writing and reading projects relevant to our audiences around the world.

Dickens 2012

The British Council is working with over 40 countries worldwide to coordinate an exciting range of arts activities celebrating the bicentenary of the UK's most prolific and influential novelists, Charles Dickens.

Erbil Literature Festival, Iraq

Writers Ahmed Sidawi, Inaam Kachachi, Dr. Nazand Begikhani, Tahmima Anam, Robin Yassin-Khassab, Bee Rowlatt, Sherko Bekas, Soheil Najm and Sarkawt Rasul took part.

London Book Fair 2012

Now in our fifth year as strategic partner of the London Book Fair, we welcome Chinese writers and publishers to the UK in April as part of the China Market Focus cultural programme.

How We Work

Learn about the type of work we do, who we work with, our web sites, education and training resources, funding, frequently asked questions and useful links.

Literature Activity

We co-ordinate literature events in the UK and around the world, providing advice and guidance to the overseas offices of the British Council on a wide range of literature activity including conference and seminar visits, and writing residencies and readings. We also compile a comprehensive listing of UK and international literary festivals.

Publications and Websites

We create various publications and resources in print, audio and online, produced in support of our projects and events in the UK and overseas.