Samuel Johnson will be making an appearance at this year’s Clunes Booktown Festival – but it won’t be the Gold Logie-winning actor, at least not in an official capacity.
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Rather a rare copy of Dr Samuel Johnson’s A Dictionary of the English Language will be on display, courtesy of the State Library of Victoria.
The famous lexicographer and wit spent 11 years preparing and collating his dictionary, which was released in 1755 and is regarded as one of the great works of English literature.
The 11th Clunes Booktown Festival is being held on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 May.
This year is the 20th anniversary of the first novel in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. In recognition of this, the volunteer organisers of Booktown have conjured a spread of magical entertainment and enchanting activities.
From 12pm Saturday, children are encouraged to come to Booktown dressed as one of their favourite characters from any magical book. They can be part of a procession of witches, wizards, fairies, talking rabbits and other mysterious beings. There’ll also be a spellbook-making session and a magic carpet book swap meet.
Guest authors at this year’s Booktown Festival include Clementine Ford, the Hon. Tim Fischer AC, Hannah Kent, Kate Grenville, A.S. Patric, Jock Serong, Melissa Keil and Annie Raser-Rowland.
Along with author talks, panel discussions and literary luncheons, festival-goers can discover the largest collection of rare, out-of-print and collectable books in Australia, look inside the town’s heritage buildings, listen to live music, watch street performers, take a horse and cart ride, try their hand in a scrabble tournament and and immerse themselves in the State Library Victoria’s display.
There’s also the Magazine In A Weekend program for emerging writers of all ages from 10 or 100-years-old, including writing, editing and design workshops.
Passes and selected author talks, panel sessions and literary lunches at www.bitly.com/clunesbooktowntickets