As I mentioned recently – here and here – I’m going to try from time to time to showcase and celebrate the physical books I’ve read, reviewed, and/or from which I’ve gathered #todayspoem snippets of inspiration. Today’s treasure is Bottle, by Margaret Atwood, published in 2004 by Hay Festival Press.

The frontispiece of Bottle includes a lovely, whimsical illustration by Margaret Atwood.

The Hay Festival started in Wales and now runs literary and cultural festivals under the Hay name around the world. As described on the festival’s web site:

For 25 years Hay Festival has brought together writers from around the world to debate and share stories at its festival in the staggering beauty of the Welsh Borders. Hay celebrates great writing from poets and scientists, lyricists and comedians, novelists and environmentalists, and the power of great ideas to transform our way of thinking. We believe the exchange of views and meeting of minds that our festivals create inspire revelations personal, political and educational. Hay is, in Bill Clinton’s phrase, ‘The Woodstock of the mind’.

Hay now runs 15 festivals across five continents at which current political thought and the re-imaginings of international writers gathered together cross cultural and genre boundaries and foster the exchange of understanding, mutual respect and ideas.

In conjunction with author appearances at the Hay Festival, excerpted and original works premiered at the event are also published in wee, attractive, gem-coloured Hay Festival Press original and limited editions. Learn more here.