SYDNEY WRITERS FESTIVAL

This is Stephen Loosley writing in The Business Herald about the recent Sydney Writers Festival:

Bob Carr, former Premier of New South Wales (1995-2005), has always been closely associated with the Sydney Writers' Festival, which was held last week. The festival is the third largest gathering of its kind in the world, attracting some 420 contributors and nearly 90,000 attendees.

It's time I made the appropriate disclaimer, as I serve on the festival's board. Sponsored by the NSW Ministry of the Arts and the Sydney City Council, the festival always has at least half its events offer free admission to the public. It's a daunting challenge, but corporate dollars come in the form of sponsors ranging from Macquarie Bank to the National Roads and Motorists Association to help pick up the tab and make it all possible.

As Premier, Carr always argued the importance of literacy and reading skills.

Some years ago, the former Premier interviewed his friend, the legendary American novelist and commentator Gore Vidal, at the Sydney Town Hall before a capacity audience. Informed that Vidal's visit to Sydney was in the tradition established by Mark Twain (Sam Clemens) and Charles Dickens, Vidal quipped: "Hey, Mark Twain. Charles Dickens. I'll take third billing".
But it was based on a misreading of Sydney's literary history: the Dickens involved was not actually Charles, but a relative. Vidal could quite reasonably have claimed second billing.

The festival attracts outstanding writers from around the country and around the world. This year was no exception.

For Stephen Loosley's full report go to the New Zealand Herald online.