Whether you’re into pop up literary salons away from the moshpit or boutique book fests by the sea there are plenty of ways to get your literary fix at festivals this summer.

Latitude (12-15 July) has a Poetry Arena, Literary Arena and Literary Salon. If you’re headed there you’ll be spoilt for choice with three days worth of goodies to draw you in from the muddy field. The line-up is vast and varied but my picks are:

The very celebrated novelist Siri Hustvedt (head here for our review of her last novel, The Summer Without Men), an interview with writer, performer and general trouble maker, Penny Arcade, Josie Long, the comedian we all love to love, Gemma Seltzer, whose very compelling blog Speak to Strangers is now in a book incarnation and finally, the peerless Patience Agbabi.

Port Eliot (19-22 July) right down in the corner of Cornwall, where there’s a chance of sun, is one of the smaller lit fests but probably the most beautiful (and definitely the one with the youngest audience).

You’ll find outdoor cinema, a flower show, a whole strand of programming devoted to food, and also; Tracy Chevalier , Ali Smith, Beth Orton, Rosie Boycott ,and there are usually a few surprise guests too.

End of the Road (31 Aug -2 Sep) have just announced  the glorious addition of Patti Smith to their line-up and that would be reason enough to go. They also have the outdoor woodland library where you can actually take out a book as long as you promise to return it to the festival the following year.

There are also books are suspended in trees and there are perfectly crafted nooks to hide with a book. There’s also a line-up which isn’t announced in advance –just enter the woods.

Have you been to any summer festivals with a literary bent this year? Are you planning to?

Mekella Broomberg

(Image via smokeghost)