The festival , which was founded in 1988, attracts a who's-who of the British literary world. Among the many writers due to attend this year are Martin Amis , Booker winners Ian McEwan and Kazuo Ishiguro, as well as high-profile, younger stars Amy Jenkins and Zadie Smith. Hay is mad about books. The town has a population of 1300 people and 39 bookshops . That's one shop for every 34 inhabitants.
Children can go along to their own book events.
The Hay Children's Festival of the Arts runs May 27-30, with readings, performances and music aimed at different age groups. TV cook and best-selling author Delia Smith has inspired a song which has been written especially for this year's Hay Festival. Don't think it's all about books and song. Hay's long history dating back before medieval times has inspired some tall stories. According to one folk legend , a giant called Maud Walbee rebuilt the castle in Hay in one night after it was attacked.