BOOK lovers are in for a special treat this year with dozens of best-selling writers already confirmed for the Dorchester Literary Festival.

Organisers of the festival, Paul Atterbury and Janet Gleeson, were delighted with last year's extended five-day festival.

Janet said: "We were thrilled that last year’s festival was such a resounding success and this year our aim is to make it bigger and better, bringing you acclaimed authors that will enlighten, amaze and entertain you, in the picturesque setting of our lovely county town.

"Dorchester and the unspoiled countryside and dramatic coastal scenery have inspired many of Britain’s best-loved writers, including Thomas Hardy and our patron Tracy Chevalier.

"We are working on an exciting programme to fill the five days of the festival with a dozen events confirmed already.

"Headliners include, Tracy Chevalier, the eminent biographer A N Wilson, the incredible Holocaust survivor Iby Knill, comedian Christopher Biggins, foreign correspondent Fergal Keane, acclaimed poet and critic Tom Paulin, travel expert Alastair Sawday, celebrated chef Thomasina Miers, best selling historians Ian Mortimer and Katie Hickman, eminent heart surgeon Stephen Westaby, award winning writer Adam Nicholson and many more."

The remarkable Iby Knill will be in conversation with Judi Spiers.

Iby Knill was born in 1923 in Czechoslovakia. In 1942, in order to escape Nazi persecution Iby escaped to Hungary where after hiding with relatives she was caught, tortured and imprisoned as an illegal immigrant.

In 1944, when the Germans occupied Hungary, Iby was sent to Auschwitz, where she was held in a hut with 250 women.

After the war Iby married a British army officer and arrived in Cornwall in 1947 to make a new life and close the door on the past.

For 60 years she hid the horrors she had survived. All that changed when Iby was featured in the BBC One programme My Story, featuring ordinary people with extraordinary stories. Now in her 90s, Iby is determined to share her experiences with future generations.

The main sponsors of the festival are Duke's Auctioneers and Westerly Dorchester.

Now in its third year, the Dorchester Literary Festival is organised by writers for all those who enjoy the written word.

The aim is to give people the opportunity to hear stimulating talks and discussions by leading authors.

Last year more than 2,500 people attended the event, held in various locations in the county town.

The Dorchester Literary Festival will run from Wednesday, October 18 to Sunday, October 22.

Janet added: "We are putting together a really exciting programme that we hope will offer something for everyone. Whether you love history, popular fiction, poetry, science, travel, medicine, music, celebrity culture, cooking, nature or crime, there will be events to tempt you."

Tickets will go on sale soon via the website.

For more information visit dorchesterliteraryfestival.com/