Looking for fabulous reads during the festive season for yourself and your loved-reading-ones? Here is a great guide: The Book Lounge’s FESTIVE READING GUIDE
The following Karavan Press & Friends titles feature:
Taking part in the Prince Albert Leesfees this year felt like a homecoming for The Fourth Boy, Andrew Robert Wilson‘s debut novel, which is partly set in the Karoo, with several pivotal scenes of the novel taking place in Prince Albert itself.
Andrew and I were in conversation about the book early on Saturday morning and enjoyed many other events on this year’s programme. It was great to listen to Martin Steyn speak about his work again, and to meet and talk to Alex Hamilton, among other wonderful authors.
Prince Albert is a quirky place to explore. By now, I have my favourites – like the Prince Albert Art Gallery, The Lazy Lizard, the Saturday Market, the Green Prince Gin Bar and many, many more. Most recent discovery: ONS – not to be missed when you visit!
Highlight of the festival since last year is Poetry at Sunrise. Prince Albert is full of talented youngsters and to see them perform their creative work in the stunning quarry just outside of the town’s centre is a magical experience.
Thank you to Hannes Visser and all the hardworking volunteers who put this inspiring festival together! One day back home and I am already looking forward to the next Leesfees, and I sincerely hope that I will be visiting Prince Albert again even sooner. So many places still to explore and the Karoo … The space, the light, the incredible, harsh beauty of it all … I can never get enough of it!
Thank you to De Kleine Prince for hosting me for the weekend. I felt like I was living in a fairytale place.
The first weekend of September is Open Book Festival time (5-7 September 2025), and we – Karavan Press, Holland House Books and our wonderful authors – are thrilled to be part of these inspiring, thought-provoking and soul-restoring conversations.
Friday, 5 September 2025
11:00-12:00
12:30-13:30
14:00-15:00
16:00-17:00
Saturday, 6 September 2025
10:00-11:00
14:00-15:00
16:00-17:30
18:00-19:00
Sunday, 7 September 2025
14:00-15:00
Karavan Press author Nick Mulgrew is also in town for the festival, but will be wearing his publisher’s hat for the occasion and participating in a celebration of ten years of uHlanga Press. Congratulations, uHlanga, Nick and all your amazing poets. Every uHlanga poetry collection is a celebration of beauty and our humanity. Thank you for ten years of outstanding publishing!
Our second book event with the wonderful Pippa Smith of The Book Revue will take place on Thursday, 4 September, at 10.30AM in Constantia and will feature Andrew Robert Wilson and his debut novel, The Fourth Boy. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Open Book Festival. Looking forward to another beautiful literary occasion!
It is time for the Prince Albert Leefees again (29-31 August 2025) and we are delighted that Andrew Robert Wilson features on the programme with his debut novel, The Fourth Boy, which is partly set in Prince Albert and the surroundings.
He will be in conversation with Karina M. Szczurek on Saturday, 30 August, 9:00-9:40AM.
Please join us for the Joburg launch of The Fourth Boyby Andrew Robert Wilson. Andrew will be in conversation with Michael Boyd, the author of The Weight of Shade.
Please join us for this special event, a joint launch of The Fourth Boy by Andrew Robert Wilson and Salt Water Pool Boy by Peter-Adrian Altini at Wordsworth Books Garden Route Mall on Tuesday, 20 May 2025, 17:30 for 18:00. The authors will be in conversation with Karina M. Szczurek.
Please join us for the Cape Town launch of Andrew Robert Wilson’s The Fourth Boy at The Book Lounge on Tuesday, 1 April 2025, 6 for 6:30PM. Andrew will be in conversation with John Maytham. Not to be missed!