EMMA LEE Some of the biggest names in modern British literature will join in King's Lynn's 17th fiction festival in March.

EMMA LEE

Some of the biggest names in modern British literature will join in King's Lynn's 17th fiction festival in March.

Dame Beryl Bainbridge and Norfolk-based author Louis de Bernieres will appear at the Town Hall.

Author Toby Litt will lead a lecture on new writing at the first event on Friday, March 11, at 7.30pm. The talk will include contributions from Kenyan novelist Azmeena Ladha, David Mitchell, who was shortlisted for the Guardian First Book Award and Heloise Shepherd.

Three events are being held on March 12. At 11am, Julian Rathbone (two novels shortlisted for the Booker Prize) will give a reading. He will be joined by Norwich-based author Trezza Azzopardi and novelist Maggie Gee.

At 3pm, Jane Gardam, who has twice won the Whitbread prize for fiction, will be in conversation with children's writer Adele Geras and Guardian children's fiction writer Stephanie Nettell. At 8pm, Norfolk writers Louis de Bernieres, who wrote Captain Corelli's Mandolin, James Buchan and William Riviere will talk about their work.

On March 13, at 11am, renowned novelist Dame Beryl Bainbridge will chair a discussion with UEA professor Christopher Bigsby about the US playwright Arthur Miller. At 3pm the visiting writers will discuss fiction.

Tickets to all events cost £8.50 each. Weekend season tickets costs £35. More details from Anthony Ellis on 01553 691661 (day) or 01553 761919 (evenings and weekends).