The power of words is being put into the spotlight from Friday to Sunday at Norwich's Chapelfield Gardens.

Eastern Daily Press: NNF17: A Manual for Heartache. Photo: Lucy DickensNNF17: A Manual for Heartache. Photo: Lucy Dickens (Image: Lucy Dickens)

Celebrating Norwich's status as a UNESCO City of Literature, 15 events over three days feature in this year's City of Literature programme presented in association with Writers' Centre Norwich for the Norfolk and Norwich Festival.

Chris Gribble, WCN chief executive, said: 'We have pulled together a whole range of writers and speakers.

'We wanted to take the temperature of current political and social debate so we wanted to theme it around revolution and people who will speak up and tell the story of what's really happening - from Mexican journalists reporting on drug cartels to commentary on the 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution.

'We have got some wonderful writers, from historical to contemporary, over the weekend.'

Eastern Daily Press: NNF17: A Manual for Heartache. Photo: Lucy DickensNNF17: A Manual for Heartache. Photo: Lucy Dickens (Image: Lucy Dickens)

When asked to pick out three highlights, Mr Gribble said: 'On Friday we have the Harriet Martineau Lecture which is called Speaking Truth To Power and features two Mexican journalists. It's absolutely riveting hearing their accounts of working in Mexico and reporting on the drug cartels.

'On the Saturday so many things are happening. We have Satire and Protest which is about the rise of graphic novels and their roles in political comment and revolution.

'On the Sunday we have got an event with Henry Sutton and Ross Raisin. They both write books about outsiders.'

He added: 'I would just encourage people to come along and try one event and I have no doubt you will end up staying for more. It's a really friendly environment and a great setting in the Adnams Spiegeltent and Literature Tent.'

Eastern Daily Press: NNF17: A Manual for Heartache. Photo: Lucy DickensNNF17: A Manual for Heartache. Photo: Lucy Dickens (Image: Lucy Dickens)

Friday in the Adnams Spiegeltent

10am: Churchill vs Attlee - John and Paul Bew look at the legacies of Winston Churchill and Clement Attlee.

12.30pm: Speaking Truth To Power - Mexican journalists Lydia Cacho and Anabel Hernandez give the Harriet Martineau Lecture.

Eastern Daily Press: NNF17: Anne Boleyn, Alison Weir. Photo: Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2017NNF17: Anne Boleyn, Alison Weir. Photo: Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2017 (Image: Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2017)

2pm: A Manual for Heartache - Richard Beard, Max Porter and Cathy Rentzenbrink discuss the healing power of words.

Friday in the Literature Tent

11.15am: Life After Tiananmen Square - Madeline Thien's latest book, Do Not Say We Have Nothing, looks at the traumatic legacy of one of the most

Eastern Daily Press: NNF17: Churchill vs Atlee, John Bew. Photo: Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2017NNF17: Churchill vs Atlee, John Bew. Photo: Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2017 (Image: Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2017)

significant political regimes of the 20th century,

3.15pm: Sharks and Surfboards - Tim Winton discusses his latest book, The Boy Behind The Curtain, with Evie Wyld.

6pm: To Be A Machine - Journalist Mark O'Connell explores the outer limits of technology.

Eastern Daily Press: NNF17: Life After Tiananmen Square, Madeline Thien. Photo: Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2017NNF17: Life After Tiananmen Square, Madeline Thien. Photo: Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2017 (Image: Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2017)

Saturday in the Adnams Spiegeltent

11.30am: Trans Like Me - Academic and trans-activist CN Lester addresses the most pressing questions in the transgender debate.

1pm: Revolutions 5X15 - Five renowned speakers, no script, and 15 minutes each to blow your mind.

Eastern Daily Press: NNF17: Reservoir 13 author Jon McGregor is among the writers taking part in the City of Literature Weekend. Photo: Dan Sinclair/Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2017NNF17: Reservoir 13 author Jon McGregor is among the writers taking part in the City of Literature Weekend. Photo: Dan Sinclair/Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2017 (Image: Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2017)

Saturday in the Literature Tent

10am: Ways of Seeing: John Berger and the Art of Observation - a tribute to the late Booker Prize-winning novelist and visionary art critic.

3pm: Satire and Protest - Graphic novelists Hannah Berry and Isabel Greenberg look at satire, protest and the revolutionary potential of the

graphic novel.

Eastern Daily Press: NNF17: Russian Revolution with Robert Service. Photo: Adele BiagiNNF17: Russian Revolution with Robert Service. Photo: Adele Biagi (Image: Adele Biagi)

6pm: Reservoir 13 - Jon McGregor's fresh take on storytelling will lead the audience on a journey through the landscape and hidden stories of

his new novel.

Sunday in the Adnams Spiegeltent

Eastern Daily Press: NNF17: Satire and Protest with Hannah Berry and Isabel Greenberg. Photo: Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2017NNF17: Satire and Protest with Hannah Berry and Isabel Greenberg. Photo: Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2017 (Image: Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2017)

10.30am: Anne Boleyn - Historian Alison Weir on her latest novel Anne Boleyn: A King's Obsession.

Sunday in the Literature Tent

12pm: Your Country Is Lying To You - Investigative journalist Ian Cobain questions what you thought you understood about the workings of the state, and our nation's culture and past.

Eastern Daily Press: NNF17: Sharks and Surfboards, Tim Winton. Photo: Hank KordasNNF17: Sharks and Surfboards, Tim Winton. Photo: Hank Kordas (Image: Hank Kordas)

1.30pm: Russia and Revolution - Historian Robert Service marks the 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution and sheds new light

on a turning point in modern history.

3pm: Writing the Fringes - Ross Raisin and Harry Brett (aka Henry Sutton) explore often overlooked voices from the fringes of modern Britain.

Eastern Daily Press: NNF17: Speaking Truth to Power, Harriet Martineau Lecture. Photo: Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2017NNF17: Speaking Truth to Power, Harriet Martineau Lecture. Photo: Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2017 (Image: Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2017)

For more information about the City of Literature Weekend and other Norfolk and Norwich Festival events, including ticket prices and how to book, visit www.nnfestival.org.uk For more Norfolk and Norwich Festival stories click here

For a full list of Norfolk and Norwich Festival events click here

Eastern Daily Press: NNF17: Trans like me with CN Lester. Photo: Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2017NNF17: Trans like me with CN Lester. Photo: Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2017 (Image: Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2017)

Eastern Daily Press: NNF17: Ways of Seeing John Berger and the Art of Observation. Photo: Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2017NNF17: Ways of Seeing John Berger and the Art of Observation. Photo: Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2017 (Image: Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2017)

Eastern Daily Press: NNF17: Writing the Fringes, Ross Raisin. Photo: Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2017NNF17: Writing the Fringes, Ross Raisin. Photo: Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2017 (Image: Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2017)