BOSTON– The Boston Book Festival (BBF) announced that it will host its 13th annual festival on October 16-23. In response to the continuing uncertainty the Delta variant poses to public events this Fall, the Boston Book Festival has decided to prioritize the community’s health and safety and cancel all scheduled in-person events for BBF 2021 and convert many of them to virtual events instead.
The 13th annual BBF will bring together speaker sessions, panel discussions and neighborhood story walks for a celebration of literature, community and the arts.
“The Boston Book Festival is a highlight of my year and an unparalleled opportunity to hear from a wide range of authors,” said Usha Pasi, a board member of the Boston Book Festival. “Whether you are a fiction, memoir, history, science, or politics aficionado (and there’s more), the community and conversation are thought-provoking and fun. Please join us.”
Ms. Pasi, who has been involved with the Boston Book Festival for several years, said One City One Story is the Boston Book Festival’s version of an all-city read. She added that this year’s story, “Dumba Chora” by Chandrayee Lahiri – set in the Sunderbans – explores universal themes of human trust and connection.
“This year, our programming covers a variety of timely topics of both local and national relevance,” said executive director Norah Piehl. “Our ability to gather authors and speakers across multiple fields and backgrounds allows us to connect the people of Greater Boston through shared experience and identity, and we are excited to explore themes that are relevant not only to New England readers but also to the literary and artistic communities around the country.”
This year, the BBF will feature new and creative opportunities for readers of all ages, including interactive options for kids and families and sessions highlighting numerous literary genres. Throughout the week, story walks will be posted throughout Boston’s neighborhoods, allowing participants to discover great stories as they explore the city. Also during the week, acclaimed authors, illustrators and speakers will engage in conversations produced by the BBF and partner organizations.
BBF 2021 sponsors include the Eric and Jane Nord Family Fund, National Endowment for the Arts, Wagner Foundation, Plymouth Rock Foundation, the James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Foundation, Arbella Insurance Foundation, Simmons University, the Cabot Family Charitable Trust, the Fuller Foundation, Greenough Brand Storytellers, Mass Humanities, Lesley University, Other Press, Cambridge Trust, Mystery Writers of America–New England, Western Governors University, Emerson College, Boston Cultural Council, Candlewick Press, Berkshire Bank, Mass Cultural Council, WBUR, The Boston Globe, GBH, TLS, and McPherson & Company.”
More information about the Boston Book Festival can be found here.
The Boston Book Festival celebrates the power of words to stimulate, educate, agitate, unite, delight, and inspire by holding year-round events culminating in an annual, free festival that promotes a culture of reading and ideas and enhances the vibrancy of the city of Boston.
