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The Guardian Hay Festival 2004
Home Success stories Cutting edge Welsh writers Talking of war Festival history Find out more
 


Is it Glastonbury? Is it a vast Teddy Bear’s Picnic? No, it’s Hay-on-Wye – the biggest literary festival in the world. Every year at the end of May, tents go up outside the small Welsh border town and writers, critics, historians, scientists, film-makers, performers and thinkers pour in. Those are just the speakers. The audience grows every year, along with the festival itself. This year, 70,000 visitors are expected.

This Channel 4 website offers a taste of what you can find at Hay this year. There are the big names, as well as a constellation of authors from across the world to discover, including a rich seam of writers from Wales. Follow four thinkers as they explore the legacy of the Second World War.

And as well as prizes for authors there are 18 wonderful books for the winner of our Hay Festival quiz.

There’s lots more information, including a link to the full programme in the Find out more section.

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Talking of war
Talking of war

World War Two: Our Finest Hour?
Saturday 5 June at 4:55pm

On the eve of the 60th anniversary of D-Day, four leading historians debate the legacy of World War Two.
 

 

Success Stories
Arnold Wesker, one of the success stories

A complete list of the main speakers and where to catch them at this year’s festival.
 

 

Competition
Test your knowledge of literature and win 18 brilliant books by authors from across the world.

Test your knowledge of literature and win 18 brilliant books by authors from across the world.

 

Prizes
Literary Prizes

A guide to all the awards for authors on offer at the Hay Festival.