The Jaipur Literature Festival, scheduled from January 21 to 25, is likely to be more varied and diverse than its previous editions, as it promises to bridge historical, political and geographical boundaries.
Nearly 200 writers, both from India and abroad, have confirmed participation.
Ruth Padel, British poet and great-great-granddaughter of Charles Darwin, British playwright Simon Armitage, Palestinian American poet Fady Joudah and poet Ashok Vajpeyi are among the writers lined up for the sessions.
Underlining the global presence will be maestros of Nordic noir Hakan Nesser and Nils Nordberg; Pulitzer-winning American biographer Kai Bird; Helon Habila, one of the leading lights of Nigerian literature, and Mark Gevisser from South Africa, whose biography of the former South African President Thabo Mbeki won him international acclaim.
At the poetry chapter of the festival, Pulitzer-winner Vijay Seshadri will join Hindi poet and Jnanpith award winner Kedarnath Singh and Hindi writer Vinod Kumar Shukla.
