What is it that makes literary festivals so special?
For one thing, they offer the chance to see our favourite authors up close and personal.
There’s nothing like hearing a writer’s voice, starting to get a feel for their accent, and spotting a few personal quirks and mannerisms.
There’s a real sense of excitement in getting a ‘behind the scenes’ glimpse of an author you have long admired.
But festivals offer another serious pleasure, too: they introduce us to authors we may never have heard of before; they open up whole new worlds of reading and thinking. They explode our preconceptions and allow us to wander down unexpected literary pathways.
Literary festivals provide time and breathing space in our bustling urban environment to just sit back, relax and new ideas and stories from smart and engaged people. In this respect, attending a festival is like being invited to a really great dinner party—the conversation is fabulous, and the guests are perfectly chosen. Bon appetit!
Part of the pleasure of attending a literary festival is getting a taste of the unknown—a new writer, a new genre, a new perspective or outlook. Festivals encourage us to stray off the beaten path as readers, and this is a wonderful thing.
But one of the things that’s also extra special about our festival here in Hong Kong is that our events are held at distinctive venues sprinkled throughout the city. This gives festivalgoers a real chance to experience the urban gem that is Hong Kong.
All aspects of our city’s heritage and its contemporary charms are touched upon via our diverse festival venues.
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There’s the up-to-the-moment cool of the Kee Club, for instance, which is perched above the historic Yung Kee Restaurant—famed stomping ground of early-20th-century Chinese moguls. Kee showcases the finest art and design from around the world within a European-influenced environment; a perfect setting for taking in the festival in style.
At the Helena May, a unique heritage building founded by Lady May in 1916, you will encounter a lush outdoor garden and significant Colonial English architecture and detailing as well as one of the finest and most extensive English-language libraries in Hong Kong.
Also offering a glimpse of old Hong Kong is Hullett House in Tsim Sha Tsui. This landmark white stucco building is one of the oldest surviving colonial government buildings in Hong Kong, beginning its life as a Marine Police headquarters in 1884. The property, which is now a boutique hotel, is named in honour of Richmond William Hullett, a 19th century English academic and scholar who discovered a variety of Bauhinia which is still represented on Hong Kong’s flag and coins today.
Of course, Hong Kong has long been a meeting point for East and West—and this distinctive mix can be sampled at Club Lusitano, known for its exclusively Portuguese clientele and authentic cuisine. The Club has been a long-standing fixture of Ice House Street since 1866, and represents Hong Kong’s fusion of European and Asian influences, drawing in the Macanese population.
And for those who want to check out all that Hong Kong has to offer in terms of contemporary design, and the international jet-set? Then drop in on an event or two at the striking Hotel ICON, designed by celebrated architects Terence Conran, Rocco Yim and William Lim. The hotel’s striking public spaces, impressive vertical garden by Patrick Blanc and grand sweeping staircase are all vivid reminders of just how chic HK can be.
The bottom line is that attending a literary festival offers more than authors, words, ideas and books: it’s also a chance to explore the Hong Kong cityscape.
Come along and delve into the hidden pleasures of this city’s nooks and crannies, and perhaps find a few new and interesting boltholes in which to while away the hours, both when the festival is running, and long afterward as well. Explore, taste, enjoy!
