Durban literary pick: August 19 2011

This week KwaZulu-Natal’s famous Midlands Meander hosts the second Midlands Literary Festival.

Big names include world-renowned; environmental writer Dr Ian Player, Judge Chris Nicholson, who will tell the remarkable story of golfer Papwa Sewgolum; Darryl David and Philippe Menache, who will talk about their book 101 Country Churches of South Africa, Sue Rabie, whose novel Blood at Bay was a finalist for the Commonwealth Literary Prize; Mandy Wiener, who will talk about her book on the killing of Brett Kebble; and Scott Couper, who will speak about his biography of Albert Luthuli.

The Sunday Times Literary Award finalist Shaida Kazie-Ali will talk about her novel, Not a Fairy Tale, and Sifiso Mzobe will speak about his award-winning novel, Young Blood, which scooped the Herman Charles Bosman Prize and the Sunday Times Literary Award. John Cameron-Dow will discuss his book, Comrades Marathon: The Ultimate Human Race, and Dan Retief will get us in the mood for the rugby World Cup with his book, The Springboks and the Holy Grail. Comrades legend Bruce Fordyce and champion jockey Muis Roberts will also attend the festival.

Yellowwood, Howick, August 26 to 28 (Friday: 3pm to 8.30pm; Saturday and Sunday: 9am to 5pm.) Tickets are R20 a person a day.
Tel: 078 598 2312 / 082 441 5795.