With Falmouth Book Festival kicking off next week, the organisers have announced the full line up and what you can expect from a week of literary themed events.

This year's event will be running from Monday, October 16 – Sunday, October 22 and once again there will be an array of high profile names in the programme, including novelists, historians, comedians, poets, environmentalists and chefs. 

Events will take place at the Poly on Church street and at the library on the Moor.

There's a strong ecological theme this year, with two former Booker Prize winning novelists - Eleanor Catton and Ben Okri - addressing the subject of climate change head-on with their latest books.

They also welcome one of the UK's most celebrated marine conservationists, Charles Clover, who'll be asking if it's already too late to save our oceans.

There will be some strong local themes running through the event: Catrina Davies will be in conversation with Raynor Winn about the portrayal of local lives and voices on the page, and Tim Hannigan will be sharing his experiences in search of the real Cornwall.

Award-winning chef and food writer James Strawbridge will be sharing his enthusiasm for locally sourced produce and Cornish food. And the multi-million copy bestselling author of Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Louis de Bernières will be talking about his new novel, Light Over Liskeard.

Highlights include Tim Hubbard celebrated Cornish broadcaster and gardener, and his latest book is The Secret Gardens of Cornwall. In conversation with Jacqui Owen, an expert on Falmouth’s free public gardens which are featured in the book, he’ll be telling the stories of the landowners, seafarers, gardeners and plant hunters who have made Falmouth and its gardens such an important horticultural location.

It tells the story of a working-class man, one Thomas Hedley of Exmoor, and of the planet during the period of its great acceleration towards the current climate emergency.

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On Wednesday, October 18, acclaimed author Ben Okri will be talking about his new book Tiger Work, a collection that sees him turning to the subject of the environment. Combining fiction, essay and poetry, it demonstrates why writers can be so important in shaping our response to climate change.

The festival will soon be releasing details of a series of writing workshops, an educational programme that brings award-winning writers into local schools, and a line-up of children’s book events that are al We finish the event with award-winning comedian, actor and poet, Tim Key who is bringing his new poetry collection Chapters to town. As well as reading some work, he'll be in conversation with festival director Colin Midson, talking about his writing, comedy and inspiration.

For full details of the line-up and what’s happening go to www.falmouthbookfestival.com