Scenes from the Martha's Vineyard Book Festival
One of three tents on the Chilmark Community Center grounds Sunday for the book festival.
One of three tents on the Chilmark Community Center grounds Sunday for the book festival.
David Kertzer talks about his Pulitzer Prize-winning book, The Pope and Mussolini.
David Kertzer talks about his Pulitzer Prize-winning book, The Pope and Mussolini.
Former congressman Barney Frank and New Yorker writer Patricia Marx on a panel about memoir writing.
Former congressman Barney Frank and New Yorker writer Patricia Marx on a panel about memoir writing.
Charlayne Hunter-Gault, Rose Styron, John Maloney, Geraldine Brooks, Nancy Aronie and Laurie David read poetry from Peggy Freydberg's Poems from the Pond.
Charlayne Hunter-Gault, Rose Styron, John Maloney, Geraldine Brooks, Nancy Aronie and Laurie David read poetry from Peggy Freydberg's Poems from the Pond.
More reading material: the Gazette's guide to the book festival.
More reading material: the Gazette's guide to the book festival.
Jeff Hobbs, David Kertzer and Steve Kurkjian talk about how they researched their books.
Jeff Hobbs, David Kertzer and Steve Kurkjian talk about how they researched their books.
John Benditt's debut novel, the Boatmaker, is part fable, part love story.
John Benditt's debut novel, the Boatmaker, is part fable, part love story.
A gathering of local authors talk about cooking and food: Ali Berlow, Laurie David, and Chris Fischer.
A gathering of local authors talk about cooking and food: Ali Berlow, Laurie David, and Chris Fischer.
Festival founder and organizer Suellen Lazarus and Gazette publisher Jane Seagrave.
Festival founder and organizer Suellen Lazarus and Gazette publisher Jane Seagrave.
Corky Pollan, co-author of the Pollan Family Table, and Steven Satterfield, author of Root to Leaf.
Corky Pollan, co-author of the Pollan Family Table, and Steven Satterfield, author of Root to Leaf.
Bob Ryan, Ginny Gilder, and Kenneth Shropshire talk women in sports.
Bob Ryan, Ginny Gilder, and Kenneth Shropshire talk women in sports.
Ta-Nehasi Coates signs copies of his book, Between the World and Me, after Friday's opening event.
Ta-Nehasi Coates signs copies of his book, Between the World and Me, after Friday's opening event.
The biennial Martha's Vineyard Book Festival brought authors and literature fans together this weekend for panel discussions, interviews and book readings from Edgartown to Chilmark. The event kicked off Friday with a sold-out discussion between Ta-Nehasi Coates and Michele Norris about race in America. At the Harbor View Hotel Saturday, panel discussions tackled topics ranging from the inner thoughts of animals and the local food movement to writing about one's self.
On the grounds of the Chilmark Community Center Sunday, crowds gathered in three tents on a hot day for a wealth of author talks and discussions. Boston Globe sports writer Bob Ryan talked sports and about his new memoir, Scribe; author Sarah Wildman talked about searching through archival records and family history for her book Paper Love, a story about love and the Holocaust; and Erik Larson kept a packed crowd entertained as he talked about his newest book, Dead Wake. Attendees purchased books in the Bunch of Grapes tent and waited in lines to have them signed by authors, while others read the Sunday New York Times on benches or took naps under a tree during downtime.
Scenes from 2017 Martha’s Vineyard Book Festival
Opening panel about covering the White House featuring correspondents Glenn Thrush and Ashley Parker and political commentator E.J. Dionne Jr.
Opening panel about covering the White House featuring correspondents Glenn Thrush and Ashley Parker and political commentator E.J. Dionne Jr.
E.J. Dionne led discussion about covering the President with Ashley Parker of The Washington Post and Glenn Thrush of The New York Times.
E.J. Dionne led discussion about covering the President with Ashley Parker of The Washington Post and Glenn Thrush of The New York Times.
Glenn Roberts, Sarah Waldman, Joan Nathan, Susie Middleton, and Sarah Leah Chase talk cooking and culture.
Glenn Roberts, Sarah Waldman, Joan Nathan, Susie Middleton, and Sarah Leah Chase talk cooking and culture.
Cookbook authors Susie Middleton and Sarah Leah Chase.
Cookbook authors Susie Middleton and Sarah Leah Chase.
Barbara Krauthamer, Beth Macy, Tera Hunter, Erica Armstrong Dunbar, and Carol Anderson discuss black female resistance.
Barbara Krauthamer, Beth Macy, Tera Hunter, Erica Armstrong Dunbar, and Carol Anderson discuss black female resistance.
Bunch of Grapes book sales were brisk.
Bunch of Grapes book sales were brisk.
Arnie Reisman, Jenny Allen, Madeleine Blais, and Richard North Patterson discuss journalism, comedy, and op-eds.
Arnie Reisman, Jenny Allen, Madeleine Blais, and Richard North Patterson discuss journalism, comedy, and op-eds.
Erica Armstrong Dunbar, Carol Anderson, and Tera Hunter.
Erica Armstrong Dunbar, Carol Anderson, and Tera Hunter.
Musical nametags: Amor Towles, Richard Russo, and Ann Patchett drew overflow crowd for their conversation.
Musical nametags: Amor Towles, Richard Russo, and Ann Patchett drew overflow crowd for their conversation.
Amor Towles, author of A Gentleman in Moscow, joins panel discussion Saturday at the Harbor View.
Amor Towles, author of A Gentleman in Moscow, joins panel discussion Saturday at the Harbor View.
Lively conversation between Richard Russo and Ann Patchett.
Lively conversation between Richard Russo and Ann Patchett.
A marked copy of A Gentleman in Moscow, signed by author Amor Towles.
A marked copy of A Gentleman in Moscow, signed by author Amor Towles.
David Foster, author of A Meeting of Land and Sea: Martha's Vineyard, and Peter Brannen during discussion about U.S. government and science.
David Foster, author of A Meeting of Land and Sea: Martha's Vineyard, and Peter Brannen during discussion about U.S. government and science.
Sharon Weinberger is author of The Imagineers of War, The Untold Story of DARPA, the Pentagon Agency that Changed the World.
Sharon Weinberger is author of The Imagineers of War, The Untold Story of DARPA, the Pentagon Agency that Changed the World.
Peter Brannen, author of The Ends of the World.
Peter Brannen, author of The Ends of the World.
Large crowd is up early for Meet the Press event.
Large crowd is up early for Meet the Press event.
Up early in Chilmark, microphones ready and waiting for panel discussion about politics featuring journalists that cover the White House.
Up early in Chilmark, microphones ready and waiting for panel discussion about politics featuring journalists that cover the White House.
E.J. Dionne, Michael Bender, Ashley Parker, Mark Leibovich, Richard North Patterson, Glenn Thrush, moderator Jeremy Hobson.
E.J. Dionne, Michael Bender, Ashley Parker, Mark Leibovich, Richard North Patterson, Glenn Thrush, moderator Jeremy Hobson.
Michael Bender of The Wall Street Journal, Ashley Parker of The Washington Post, and Mark Leibovich of The New York Times.
Michael Bender of The Wall Street Journal, Ashley Parker of The Washington Post, and Mark Leibovich of The New York Times.
Book festival brought excited crowd to Chilmark Community Center grounds on Sunday.
Book festival brought excited crowd to Chilmark Community Center grounds on Sunday.
Harvard University professor Evelyn Brooks Higginbothan and Carol Anderson, author of White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide.
Harvard University professor Evelyn Brooks Higginbothan and Carol Anderson, author of White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide.
Photographer Elizabeth Cecil, left, and author Sarah Waldman, right, discuss their cookbook Feeding a Family with Laurie David.
Photographer Elizabeth Cecil, left, and author Sarah Waldman, right, discuss their cookbook Feeding a Family with Laurie David.
Basketball break during book fest events Sunday in Chilmark.
Basketball break during book fest events Sunday in Chilmark.
Award-winning novelists Geraldine Brooks and Ann Patchett share a laugh.
Award-winning novelists Geraldine Brooks and Ann Patchett share a laugh.
Scott Simon dressed appropriately for discussion about his book My Cubs: A Love Story.
Scott Simon dressed appropriately for discussion about his book My Cubs: A Love Story.
Anson Mills founder Glenn Roberts interviews Joan Nathan, author of cookbook King Solomon's Table.
Anson Mills founder Glenn Roberts interviews Joan Nathan, author of cookbook King Solomon's Table.
Dr. Willie Parker discusses his book Life's Work: A Moral Argument for Choice.
Dr. Willie Parker discusses his book Life's Work: A Moral Argument for Choice.
Book festival founder and director Suellen Lazarus.
Book festival founder and director Suellen Lazarus.
Young readers attended the event too.
Young readers attended the event too.
Former Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy introduced Min Jin Lee.
Former Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy introduced Min Jin Lee.
Min Jin Lee's novel Pachinko explores several generations of a Korean family in Japan.
Min Jin Lee's novel Pachinko explores several generations of a Korean family in Japan.
Danzy Senna talks about her novel New People.
Danzy Senna talks about her novel New People.
Dogs joined the crowd Sunday in Chilmark, though some attention spans waned.
Dogs joined the crowd Sunday in Chilmark, though some attention spans waned.
Kay Goldstein interviews Susie Middleton, author of Simple Green Suppers.
Kay Goldstein interviews Susie Middleton, author of Simple Green Suppers.
Crowds spilled out of tents and some found alternative seating.
Crowds spilled out of tents and some found alternative seating.
Julie Buntin talks about her debut novel, Marlena.
Julie Buntin talks about her debut novel, Marlena.
Rose Syron, Rona Kiley, and Joan Nathan.
Rose Syron, Rona Kiley, and Joan Nathan.
Richard Russo discussed Trajectory, his new collection of short stories.
Richard Russo discussed Trajectory, his new collection of short stories.
Book festival is over, let the reading commence. See you in two years.
Book festival is over, let the reading commence. See you in two years.
The 2017 Martha’s Vineyard Book Festival was a three-day celebration of the written word, from journalism to cookbooks, novels to non-fiction books tackling a wide range of subjects. The event began Friday with a panel discussion about covering the White House, and then on Saturday authors gathered for discussions at the Harbor View Hotel in Edgartown. On Sunday the action continued at the Chilmark Community Center grounds, beginning with a press panel about politics and continuing to more than 30 speaking events, with authors and readers gathered together under tents on a sunny summer day.
Annual Book Festival Returns
Julia Blanter signing copies of her new cookbook.
Julia Blanter signing copies of her new cookbook.
Suellen Lazarus introducing a panel.
Suellen Lazarus introducing a panel.
![[l-r] Aimee Bell, Keith McNally, Suellen Lazarus, Valerie Rosenberg.](/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/gallery/2025/08/05/js_bookfest_l-r_aimee_bell_keith_mcnally_suellen_lazarus_valerie_rosenberg_50-_jsp4330.jpg?itok=qNOpNDCS "[l-r] Aimee Bell, Keith McNally, Suellen Lazarus, Valerie Rosenberg.")
[l-r] Aimee Bell, Keith McNally, Suellen Lazarus, Valerie Rosenberg.
![[l-r] Aimee Bell, Keith McNally, Suellen Lazarus, Valerie Rosenberg.]( /sites/default/files/gallery/2025/08/05/js_bookfest_l-r_aimee_bell_keith_mcnally_suellen_lazarus_valerie_rosenberg_50-_jsp4330.jpg "[l-r] Aimee Bell, Keith McNally, Suellen Lazarus, Valerie Rosenberg.")
[l-r] Aimee Bell, Keith McNally, Suellen Lazarus, Valerie Rosenberg.
Dream Hampton and Ayana Elizabeth Johnson get into their discussion.
Dream Hampton and Ayana Elizabeth Johnson get into their discussion.
The Eating Our Stories panel featuring Julia Blanter, Jessica Harris, Eric Kim, Steven Satterfield, and Ligaya Mishan.
The Eating Our Stories panel featuring Julia Blanter, Jessica Harris, Eric Kim, Steven Satterfield, and Ligaya Mishan.
Kara Swisher and Andrew Celli.
Kara Swisher and Andrew Celli.
Valerie Jarrett and Jonathan Capehart discussing Yet Here I am.
Valerie Jarrett and Jonathan Capehart discussing Yet Here I am.
Copies of Baldwin for sale.
Copies of Baldwin for sale.
Chris Hayes and Al Styron interacting with the crowd.
Chris Hayes and Al Styron interacting with the crowd.
A packed house under the tent.
A packed house under the tent.
Vineyard author Geraldine Brooks speaks with Lanny Breuer.
Vineyard author Geraldine Brooks speaks with Lanny Breuer.
Island readers love the MV Book Festival.
Island readers love the MV Book Festival.
![[l-r] Aimee Bell, Keith McNally, Suellen Lazarus, Valerie Rosenberg.](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_200x133_/public/gallery/2025/08/05/js_bookfest_l-r_aimee_bell_keith_mcnally_suellen_lazarus_valerie_rosenberg_50-_jsp4330.jpg?itok=0SiXTwjw "[l-r] Aimee Bell, Keith McNally, Suellen Lazarus, Valerie Rosenberg.")
The annual Martha's Vineyard Book Festival returned to Chilmark this past weekend with a new slate of authors and numerous discussions.