Hong Kong International Literary Festival 2021

The Hong Kong International Literary Festival (HKILF) is back this November for their 21st festival, entitled the “Rebound Edition.” To be held from 5 to 15 November, the main festival weekend of the premier literary event will take place over four days from 11 to 14 November at venues including Asia Society, The Fringe Club, and Tai Kwun.

This year’s edition of HKLIF will focus on themes of resilience, recovery, and mental health, with an emphasis on new fiction and the joy of reading. Headline speakers will include best-selling and award-winning authors Amor Towles, Paula Hawkins, Damon Galgut, and Karen McManus, as well as some of the most exciting emerging and established talents from Hong Kong.

“Our 21^st edition aims to inspire the joy of reading with something to interest book lovers of all kinds,” says festival director, Catherine Platt.” Hong Kong’s many avid readers will not want to miss Amor Towles, author of A Gentleman in Moscow, speaking about his new novel The Lincoln Highway; Girl on a Train author Paula Hawkins on her latest thriller, A Slow Fire Burning; or South African author Damon Galgut’s Booker-prize short-listed novel, The Promise. From world-class fiction to new books exploring mental health and wellness, festival-goers will be spoilt for choice with a packed weekend of hybrid events, including live-streamed authors, as well as in-person panel discussions, readings, workshops, and walking tours that highlight local talent.”

Under the theme of Rebound, the upcoming festival will present a diverse range of international and local authors exploring perspectives on current issues in the business world, inspiring stories of creativity and resilience, as well as new imaginings of Hong Kong in recent novels and non-fiction books, among other themes.