Books, writers, stories, prose, poetry, and politics. It all comes together at the International Literature Festival Utrecht. A week where literature takes center stage and readers take to the barricades for freedom of speech. Nacht van de Poëzie / Night of Poetry - photo: Maarten Mooijman Readers’ March In more and more places throughout the world, free speech is under attack and undemocratic, autocratic movements are becoming more prominent. ILFU is calling on everyone with a heart for free speech, literature and democracy to join the Readers’ March through the city. You can already join the Virtual March now by submitting a book that symbolises freedom and democracy for you. 20Sseptember, Jaarbeursplein Utrecht Book Market Somewhere among all those thousands of books in over a hundred stalls, you will find that one particular novel you’ve been searching for years – that specialised masterpiece about scissor grinding through the ages, or the Tintin that completes your collection. So be sure to bring enough bags for all those impulse buys and enjoy the encyclopaedic analogue knowledge of the sellers at this massive book market. 21 September, Vredenburg Night of Poetry Exploring Stories ILFU will bring together exceptional writers and thinkers from around the globe. The audience can meet their favourite authors, discover new voices, and find inspiration in their literary perspective on the world. With Natasha Brown, Naja Marie Aidt, Jazmina Barrera, Sunil Amrith, Isabella Hammad, Houria Bouteldja, Paul Lynch and more. 27 September, TivoliVredenburg Book Talks Join the conversation with Robert MacFarlane (22 September), Elizabeth Strout (24 September), Deborah Levy (2 October) and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (3 October) various locations and dates