This year’s Guernsey Literary Festival, which finished on Sunday, has been hailed as ‘an outstanding success’ by its festival director, Claire Allen.

Over the two weeks of the festival, more than 80 events, most featuring writers and speakers from the Channel Islands, UK, Ireland and USA, were organised to celebrate the joy of books, writing and big ideas and, including the education, community and outreach programmes, more than 10,000 people attended.

‘It’s been an amazing two weeks,’ says Claire Allen. ‘The feedback from audiences, speakers and other participants has been unbelievably positive. We’ve had over 20 sell-out events, including Michel Roux, Martin Sixsmith and Louise Minchin at St James.’

And Sir Terry Waite KCMG CBE, the Festival’s honorary chairman, said, ‘Guernsey can be proud of the Literary Festival. Each year it grows from strength to strength and has become a vital part of the cultural life of the Island. I am honoured to be associated with it.’

Russia expert Martin Sixsmith, who talked about his book Putin and the Return of History was full of praise for book festivals in general and the Guernsey Festival in particular.

‘I was delighted to speak at the Guernsey Literary Festival. I love doing these events as it gives me the opportunity to put my views across but also to hear the views of the audience. One of the most important parts of these talks is the questions at the end.

‘It’s always remarkable how many intelligent, interesting and perceptive questions come from the audience. We very much enjoyed our visit and having a sell-out audience of 500 people definitely makes you want to come back again!’

Louise Minchin said, ‘Thank you so much for such a fun 24 hours. I loved it all!’ while best selling novelist John Boyne said, ‘It's my first time here but I'm definitely coming back! Thanks to the festival and the wonderful audience for coming out on a sunny day.’

Claire Allen paid tribute to the work of those involved in planning and organising the Festival, all volunteers, and all those who helped as stewards and drivers to get the writers and speakers to and from their events.

‘The universal comment we’ve received is the warmth of the welcome and the quality of the organisation, which is down to the team of volunteers involved,’ she said. She also paid tribute to the many sponsors and partners, without whom the Festival would not be able to exist.

The Guernsey Literary Festival also organised the Guernsey International Poetry Competition, judged by international poet Paul Muldoon, which had a record 3,000 entries from all over the world. The winner, Iona Roisin, flew in from Finland for the presentation during the Festival.

There was a record entry of more than 1,000 in the WriteStuff writing competition for Bailiwick pupils. All four of the UK judges came to the island to take part in the Festival and the WriteStuff presentation.

The Festival also organised 21 events in local schools with visiting authors, as well as a community and outreach programme with events taking place in the prison, residential homes and the Town Church.

Next year’s Guernsey Literary Festival takes place from 28 April to 4 May 2025.

The Festival would like to thank the following festival sponsors for their support:

Butterfield, BWCI Group, C5 Alliance, Carey Olsen, Dorey Financial Modelling, Guernsey Arts, Guernsey Post, Hiscox, Investec, the John Ramplin Charitable Trust, Julius Baer, Kirkwood Properties, Mourant, the NED Forum, Rawlinson & Hunter, Rothschild & Co, Specsavers, St Pierre Park Hotel, TPA, Vive La Vallette and Walkers.

Quotes from visiting writers and speakers about 2024 Guernsey Literary Festival

‘Guernsey can be proud of the Literary Festival. Each year it grows from strength to strength and has become a vital part of the cultural life of the island. I am honoured to be associated with it.’ Sir Terry Waite KCMG CBE (Honorary Chairman of the Guernsey Literary Festival)

‘I had such a great time! The festival was so brilliantly organised and everyone was super friendly and welcoming. Writing and swimming are two of my favourite things, so it was truly perfect! Thanks for everything you did to make us all feel so comfortable and welcome!’ Emma Gannon

‘I was delighted to speak at the Guernsey Literary Festival. I love doing these events as it gives me the opportunity to put my views across but also to hear the views of the audience. One of the most important parts of these talks is the questions at the end. It’s always remarkable how many intelligent, interesting and perceptive questions come from the audience. We very much enjoyed our visit and having a sell-out audience of 500 people definitely makes you want to come back again!’

Martin Sixsmith

‘I personally love literary festivals because it’s so exciting to see that people engage with the book and it resonates with them, and they’re inspired by it. Thank you so much for such a fun 24 hours. I loved it all!’ Louise Minchin

‘I came here to one of the Guernsey Lit Fests and I thought it was enchanting. The number of great names you’ve got here both big and small is just fabulous.’ Peter James

‘A fantastic afternoon in Guernsey taking part in the Guernsey Literary Festival. It's my first time here but I'm definitely coming back! Thanks to the festival and the wonderful audience for coming out on a sunny day.’ John Boyne

‘Thank you for putting on such a special festival.’ Bryony Gordon

‘My first impression of Herm is just mind blowing. I’m almost speechless which is a very rare occurrence. The oysters are pure in taste and not too salty - they were almost sweet - incredible.’ Michel Roux

‘What’s really lovely about meeting people face to face is that is that when they have read your book and they’re inspired by it, they’ve enjoyed it and it’s made them laugh, that’s very rewarding.’ Sarah Beeny

‘When children see an author or illustrator in schools it makes the book real for them. The children were so excited and they had so many questions. I’m feeling great after meeting them.’ Rashmi Sirdeshpande (speaking at Amherst School).

‘I think it’s crucially important for children to meet authors and to realise they’re people just like them. I remember all the author visits I had as a child and they were all so inspiring to me. They really were what spurred me on to believe that I could become an author myself.’ Jess French (speaking at the Vale School)

‘I would like to thank you for your generous hospitality, wonderful company, and thoughtful organisation for making our two-day stay in Guernsey such a memorable one. I was touched by the fact that you offered seats to sixth-form students at a paid event. As much as business and finance needs to learn how to tackle climate change, the younger generation is the one that must see that a brighter future is possible.’ Akshat Rathi

‘I wanted to write to thank you for the invitation and say how genuinely impressed I have been by your fabulous festival. Everything was so well managed and organised: what’s more, the crowd of 200 people were genuinely engaged and interested with some great questions and enthusiastic support.’ Jane Martinson

‘I had great fun tonight talking last night at the Guernsey Literary Festival about my book The British Bloke Decoded.’ Geoff Norcott

‘What a brilliant day with the Guernsey Literary Festival in which I spoke to many SUPER imaginative young people (and learnt how to draw a castle).’ Ash Bond

‘Another corker of a festival. Thanks Guernsey Literary Festival’ Huw Lewis-Jones

‘I was bowled over by the reception tonight. Thank you so much.’ Ned Boulting

‘Thank you to the Guernsey Literary Festival for a weekend of creativity, history and sunshine. Really enjoyed my crime event with Jenny O’Brien and Mary Horlock and loved meeting the writers at my historical fiction workshop. Also I saw rabbits! And a vole! And Louis de Bernières! But not at the same time.” Anna Mazzola

‘Lucky Frances Hardinge and I got a private tour of Hauteville, the house which Victor Hugo designed and lived in while in exile in Guernsey. Loved seeing the hidden storage places and the fold-down desks on which he wrote Les Miserables. His house is an autobiography.’ Anna Mazzola

‘I just wanted to send you all a MASSIVE thank you for inviting me to Guernsey this year. I loved it!’ Jessica Hepburn

‘Never has it felt so much like coming home. Thank you Guernsey and the Guernsey Literary Festival and to everyone who came to The Golden House event at the Guille-Alles Library today. Big thanks to Adam Bayfield for the words and to Paul Chambers for the pictures.’ Jacquie Bloese

‘I enjoyed meeting a group of Blanchelande Nursing Home residents today on the subject of Guernsey Greats. Rob Batiste

‘Doubtless you are still in the thick of organising the festival, but I wanted to write and say thank you for an incredibly well organised trip for me. The flights were perfect, the hotel lovely and the staff a delight, as was everyone I met while on the island. I enjoyed all the company and was delighted by the turnout at my event. What an intelligent and generous audience, which nailed it for me…I’m coming back and bringing my wife next time.’ Pat Nevin

‘Thank you for organising a wonderful event, which attracted upwards of 200 people and seems to have been sold out! It generated some excellent questions from a very informed audience. Sally Rochester was wonderful and not only interviewed me brilliantly but hosted a round table with the minister which seems to have got Guernsey on the road to some serious new conservation initiatives.’ Charles Clover

Other Festival Feedback

‘I just want to say how very grateful I am for the opportunity to show off my 7WOMEN again. It was a beautiful setting for the paintings and they looked really fantastic in the luminous gallery space.’ Olympia McEwan

‘We are very lucky this morning to have Nicole Le Goupillot speaking to our Year 10 students about leadership and the qualities leaders should have - with thanks to the Guernsey Literary Festival for organising another great opportunity for our students.’ Elizabeth College

‘As always, a huge thank you for organising Andy West’s visit this morning. The students really enjoyed it and they will write it up in the magazine next month.’ Rachel Kaufman, Manager, Guernsey Prison

‘I just wanted to write to thank you for organising for Huw Lewis-Jones to come and visit us as part of this year’s Literary Festival. Our children absolutely loved his story time session. He had them spellbound from start to finish.’ Lorna Froome, Monkey Puzzle

“Such a joy to host last night’s Guernsey Literary Festival event with Ned Boulting. A brilliant guest and a brilliant audience. Could have chatted for hours.’ Tony Curr (event host)

‘Beautiful Guernsey: bracing swims, bluebells, blue skies and conversations with the most brilliant women including Sarah Beeny, Emma Gannon, Louise Minchin, Bryony Gordon and Clover Stroud.’ Hannah MacInnes (event host)

‘Seriously the Guernsey Literary Festival outdoes itself every year – what an amazing line-up of talented writers for 2024. Thank you to the GLF team’ Martine Ellis (festival attendee)

‘Fascinating to hear about the Good Law Project. The Guernsey Literary Festival smashing it this year (as usual). Thank you so much’ Nichole Culverwell (festival attendee)