[17.7.05][Andrew Stevens] UNACKNOWLEDGED LEGISLATION "It was rumoured recently that the government was about to pass a law decreeing that every town and village in Britain, no matter how small, must host its own literary festival. The rumour turned out to be unfounded, partly because such legislation was superfluous. Effectively it's in practice already. What is true is that many people need literary festivals very badly. Their pathetic lives would be impoverished and miserable without them. I am talking about the writers, of course, but the public seems willing to tolerate them, too."
