Shepway Chairman's Blog

I was at the first day of the Folkestone Book Festival, 6th November, and I am back at the Quarterhouse in Folkestone for the last day, Saturday 14th November.  We’ve had wonderful weather in between but today, as on the day of the launch, there is heavy rain.  However, nothing seems to deter the festival goers who crowd into every event at the Quarterhouse.

Cllr Susan Carey, Chairman of Shepway District Council and Vitali Vitaliev

I am here for the talk from Vitali Vitaliev about his memoir ‘Life as a Literary Device’.  Vitali spent a year in Folkestone, a year when he was at a low point in his life.  He identifies his crisis and depression with a low point in Folkestone’s fortunes.  When I meet him before the talk I tell him that I remember his criticisms of Folkestone in the national press and how defensive I felt.  He gently tells me that there is a difference between criticism from a position of love and one from hatred.  He loves Folkestone sees his fortunes and those of Folkestone as having changed markedly for the better.  He and his partner Christine are impressed by the Quarterhouse and Vitali speaks with enthusiasm about the Coastal Park and the Folkestone Triennale.

Life as a Literary Device: A writer's manual of survival

Vitali gives his talk at nineteen to the dozen; interspersing extracts of his time in Folkestone with selections from his memoir selected by the audience calling out a random page number.  His command of English is remarkable but is all the more so for someone whose mother tongue is Russian.  His prose is close to poetry and his book is designed to be a memoir but also a survivor’s manual.  He and Folkestone are both survivors.

I am particularly struck by one passage that Vitali quotes:

“A writer not only has to write, he has to live in order to have something to write about.  And of the two occupations, living is much the hardest.”

Vitali has had eleven books published so far and you may well have heard his reports for the BBC on Eastern Europe or seen one of his tv programmes.  How did he come to be in Folkestone?  You will have to read the book to find out.  But what is even more astonishing is that he is not the only author from the former Soviet Union to have a connection to Folkestone.  After Vitali’s talk, there is a small party at the Homeground Cafe in the Old High Street, organised by Nick Spurrier, and there I meet Andrei Ostalsky of the BBC World Service who both lives in Folkestone and has written a book (in Russian) set in Folkestone.

Among the things I appreciate about being Chairman of Shepway District Council is having a front row seat (usually literally) at so many interesting and enjoyable events in our district and also all the unusual and unexpected things I am learning about Shepway.  Two Russian authors with a Folkestone connection is another gem to add to my collection.

Fran and Sarah - supporters of the Folkestone Book Festival