What The Media Said

“The Irrawaddy Literary Festival isn’t exactly like Cheltenham or Hay. For a start, it’s unlikely that a British literary event would be invaded by thousands of adoring fans (until, obviously, Justin Bieber’s long-awaited historical trilogy appears) but that’s exactly what happened ….. in Mandalay where this Burmese celebration of writers took place.”

“The three-day literary festival gives participants unfettered space to freely discuss sensitive political and social issues between locals and foreigners”

“More than one writer noted that a striking element of the Irrawaddy festival was not just that it was taking place, but the diversity of views on display. After decades of suppression, the notion that different opinions could co-exist is profoundly radical.”

“Authors once imprisoned for their writings will be among those featured in Myanmar’s first international literary festival…” 

“It was a literary festival with a difference….. the first time that many foreigners had ever had the opportunity to read or hear Burmese literature or poetry.”

“The festival is a kind of miracle in a land where everything is hard..… yet its message is perpetual: that ideas and books can be freely discussed.”

“Burma added a touch of poetry to its political reforms at the weekend with the staging of its first international literary festival, made possible after its oppressive censorship regime was lifted last year.”

“Burmese delight in books after censorship relaxed”

An insider’s guide to the best festivals and events in Burma, including the Irrawaddy Literary Festival…

“In February I was at the Irrawaddy Literary Festival in Mandalay, where Aung San Suu Kyi was a major attraction, welcoming by her very presence the arrival of visitors from the West.”

“…..festival director Jane Heyn and her colleagues can congratulate themselves on pulling off a worthy successor to the first edition, held in Rangoon, which was listed as the third best such festival in the world after Jaipur and one of the Hay franchise.”

“Burma’s sweeping political and social reforms have made many things possible and for writers the big boon was February’s Irrawaddy Literary Festival……”

“…..Sessions were held in Burmese and English and ranged from panel discussions on heritage buildings, violence and censorship to poetry readings. The highlight of the weekend was Suu Kyi’s talk on how books gave her courage through her 15 years under house arrest.”

“But, in a sign of unpredictable political times, the Burmese authorities changed their minds about the festival at the last minute. A letter from the ministry of culture informed festival organiser Jane Heyn, who comes from Co Antrim, the pagoda could no longer be used as the main venue……But, in Jane Heyn’s words, it was a moment “when the tough got going”. With the support of an army of young volunteers, the tents, banners, stalls and electrical equipment were relocated from the pagoda compound several hundred yards to the Mandalay Resort Hotel and placed around the gardens.

Among the relieved authors were exiles who had not visited their homeland in years but whose stories of life under oppression have found an audience on the international stage. Now they had a chance to connect with locals hearing them speak for the first time.”

“Myanmar’s first international literary festival over the weekend drew thousands of people. NGO workers, journalists, lawyers, business executives, monks and students — it wasn’t the usual book club crowd. Nor was this any regular book festival.”

“The festival had a buzzy but warm atmosphere — there was laughter, in a couple of sessions a baby cried out (the same baby or perhaps there were several?) and no one complained. Vikram Seth, who was speaking when the wee one cried applauded him, suggesting the baby has the good sense to agree with him. It was a friendly vibe considering the high caliber of writers present….”

“ The festival organizers have gone to great lengths to attract not just international stars, such as Vikram Seth and Jung Chang, but also some eighty local writers. An older writer, imprisoned for twelve years, tells how his long incarceration wrecked his marriage and his relationship with his children. As we move on to celebrate this emerging new Burma, we must remember the pain that cannot be undone, wrongs that can never be righted, lives ruined.”

“I was fortunate to be a part of the first Irrawaddy Literary Festival – the first of its kind Myanmar has known in half a century. It was held at the Inya Lake Hotel in Yangon in February 2013. The air had lost its bite and indolent clouds drifted in the blue waters of the lake. Ms Aung San Suu Kyi arrived amid unprompted and seemingly unending applause…”

“…..during the course of the weekend, over several different sessions, I came to understand their motivations, family history, tender moments and fond memories. It was an unhurried and joyful experience, a world away from my daily life…..”

“The Irrawaddy Literary Festival in Mandalay was far more than just wishy-washy ‘literature.’ Numerous sessions focused on the situation in Rakhine State, either trying to agree what was happening there or discussing what should be done.”

“Remember Zarganar, the poet and comedian who was serving a 35-year sentence before he was released in the first wave of a general amnesty in the fall of 2011? He’ll be there.

Remember Nay Phone Latt, the 2010 PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award winner who was serving an 11-year sentence for his blogging activities before he was released last January? He’ll be there.

Remember Zaw Thet Htwe, the journalist who was serving a 15-year sentence for reporting on Cyclone Nargis before he was also released last January? He’ll be there.”

“Like the early days of the Ubud Writer’s and Reader’s Festival, it felt as if you had portalled into the heart of a warm and friendly literary family as you rubbed shoulders with Booker Prize Winner, Anne Enright, had a drink in the bar with best selling author, Louis de Bernieres and got to know some of Burma’s top poets, short story writers, novelists and journalists.”

“…….the festival—under the patronage of former opposition leader, and now State Counsellor, Aung San Suu Kyi—has since 2013 been striving to bring Myanmar and the English-speaking world closer together.”

3 reasons to attend the Irrawaddy Literary Festival this weekend in Mandalay…1) Some of the talks sound awesome…2) The bench of foreign authors is deep…3) Support literature in Myanmar.

“The Irrawaddy Literary Festival…comes as Myanmar relaxes its censorship rules, bringing new freedom of expression to authors, journalists, bloggers and comedians, many of whom have served time as political prisoners”

“Uplifting Burma’s stagnant publication industry, despite its rich literary history, Burma presents Irrawaddy Literary Festival. Held on Mandalay’s Kuthodaw Pagoda, the festival venue and a Unesco World Heritage Site, this festival promises to encapsulate the pleasure of being a reader through Burmese and international writers, cartoonists, translators and artists.”