A CELEBRATION of history will be at the heart of this year’s York Literature Festival, which is to feature a host of leading writers.

The 2018 festival will mark the varied history of the ancient city as it welcomes a number of award-winning authors to speak about their work.

The event begins on Thursday, March 15 with York author Fiona Mozley, who will be at the York Centre for Writing at York St John University.

The 29-year-old's acclaimed debut novel, Elmet, made the Man Booker Prize shortlist this year, with a tale inspired by Yorkshire’s landscape and its relationship with the past.

It marks the start of a 12-day long festival programme which includes a talk by writer and broadcaster Dr Lucy Worsley, who will be sharing her new book, Jane Austen at Home: A Biography.

Other speakers include Dr Janina Ramirez, author and BBC documentary presenter, who will explore the power of mystical tradition; and medical historian Dr Lindsey Fitzharris discussing “The Butchering Art”, which examines the turning point in the brutal history of British medicine thanks to surgeon Joseph Lister.

Sir Simon Jenkins, author and former editor of The Evening Standard and The Times will be talking about his latest book Britain’s 100 Best Railway Stations; while Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, the UK’s first Muslim Cabinet Minister, author of The Enemy Within: A Tale of Muslim Britain, who will be speaking about her account of growing up in Britain as a child of immigrants.

TV legend and 1980’s icon Johnny Ball speaking about the fascinating story of mathematics through the ages and Dale Pinnock, presenter on ITV’s ‘Eat, Shop, Save’, aka “The Medicinal Chef”.

The festival also welcomes detective writers, Second World War novelists, children’s authors, artists and poets, including readings from Robert Powell’s new collection Riverain, aboard a riverboat on the Ouse.

The festival closes with an event at Waterstones examining the growing trend of Northern Noir crime fiction with authors A.A Dhand and Robert Scragg.

Festival director, Rob O’Connor said: “The 2018 programme celebrates the varied history of the beautiful city of York.

“This year is also the 200th anniversary of the publication of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” and we are hosting a number of events including our ‘Monsters’ creative writing competition organised by the Mount School for all school-age children.”

The event is taking place at venues across the centre of York, including York Theatre Royal, Bettys Tea Rooms, St Peter’s School, Bar Convent, The Basement at City Screen and York Explore Library.

The majority of event tickets can be obtained from York Theatre Royal at; yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.

There are also free events to attend. To reserve your place visit; yorkliteraturefestival.co.uk.