Three big names have signed up to appear at the Guernsey Literary Festival this year.

Journalist Jon Snow, lexicographer Susie Dent and TV presenter Dan Walker will talk about their new books – and much more – at the festival, which this year runs from 2 to 14 May.

In his book The State of Us - The Good News and the Bad News about our Society, veteran journalist Jon Snow traces how the life of the nation has changed across his five-decade career, from getting thrown out of university for protesting against apartheid to interviewing every prime minister since Margaret Thatcher. He shows how the greatest problems at home and abroad so often come down to inequality and an unwillingness to confront it.

But despite the challenges, Jon has witnessed profound social progress. In this passionate rallying cry, he argues that at its best, journalism reflects not just who we are now but who we can be. We've had enough of division; the future is for us.

Susie Dent’s new book An Emotional Dictionary - Real Words for How we Feel, from Angst to Zwodder looks at some of the real --and rarely used – words that can pinpoint exactly how we feel, words such as Curglaff (the shock of jumping into icy water) or Groaking (longing for the food that someone else is eating).

There are many more and Susie, the queen of Countdown’s Dictionary Corner, is on a mission to uncover them.

Journalist and presenter Dan Walker is one of television’s nice guys and his book, Standing on the Shoulders - Incredible Heroes and How They Inspire Us, celebrates some of the nation’s quiet heroes. The book is packed with stories of kindness, compassion and selflessness from ordinary people, examples on which Dan thinks it important to shine a light.

All three will be appearing at St James, Jon Snow on 11 May, Susie Dent and Dan Walker on the 13 May. The Festival, now established as one of the biggest annual arts events in the Channel Islands, will feature more than 50 events in the five days from 10 to 14 May, including a full education and community programme.

Full details of all the events will be in the programme launched in early March and delivered to every Guernsey household. It will be available on the Festival website, guernseyliteraryfestival.com, where tickets can be purchased from the date of the programme launch. Literary Festival members will be able to buy tickets a week ahead, and details of membership are on the Festival website.

The Guernsey Literary Festival is also looking for volunteers to help steward events and to meet and transport guest speakers.

Anyone interested should email Holly at [email protected]
Any organisation wanting to sponsor an event should contact Claire at [email protected]