The world’s only festival dedicated to one of the most treasured and popular genres, biography and memoir, is celebrating its 10th year this May.

Staged by The Boswell Trust, the festival originally took place at Auchinleck House, the Boswell family seat. However, in 2013, the beautifully restored Dumfries House, saved for the nation by HRH the Prince of Wales became its new home.

The Boswell Book Festival will mark its 10th year, here at Dumfries house and this year’s programming will be announced on 18 March encompassing many diverse and rich life stories told by some of our greatest biographers, writers and performers.

The past ten years has featured a fantastic array of authors and personalities including Kate Adie, Judi Dench, Philippe Sands, Jung Chang, Alan Johnson, Joanna Lumley, Susan Calman, Matthew Parris, Simon Sebag Montefiore, John Byrne, Andrew O'Hagan and many more.

The Children’s programme has also enjoyed many of the great writers and illustrators working today including Nick Sharratt, Kjartan Poskitt and Debi Gliori.

“Celebrating 10 years this May during which the Festival has grown up into a major cultural event but lost none of its youthful vigour or intimacy, I eagerly anticipate this year’s line-up of stimulating and entertaining speakers.”- Director of the Boswell Book Festival

Started in 2011, The Boswell Book Festival is named after the great Ayrshire writer James Boswell, the inventor of modern biography.

Born in 1740 James Boswell was educated at Edinburgh University followed by Glasgow University, where he attended the lectures of the great Enlightenment philosopher, Adam Smith. He was drawn to the pleasure-loving side of life and his first visit to London at the age of 19 began a love affair with the city which never wavered.

Boswell's later friendship with the towering figure of Dr Samuel Johnson – compiler of the definitive dictionary of the English language and celebrated man of letters – led him to become Johnson's biographer.

The account of his life, Life of Johnson, published 229 years ago this May, has never been out of print, upholding his reputation as one of the most innovative writers and established him as the inventor of modern biography. Boswell also ushered in the confessional memoir, which is so popular today.

For further information please visit boswellbookfestival.co.uk