Bestselling international novelist Adam Nicolson will speak about the resurgence in nature-writing heralded by the current wave of green literature at the Jaipur Literature Festival next year.

Cultural historian and Virginia Wolfe expert Alexandra Harris will offer a fresh perspective on the English writerÂs iconoclastic masterpiece Orlando; award-winning journalist Ãsne Seierstad, who went to Afghanistan two weeks after September 11^th and later returned to live with an Afghan family will share her insights on the troubled nation; and Dominic Dromgoole, former artistic director of the Globe Theatre, will discuss ShakespeareÂs universality and how his works manage to resonate with audiences from China to Syria as seen through Globe to Globe, the recent world tour of Hamlet at the Festival slated from January 25 to 29, 2018.

The third list of speakers also include Harvard professor Homi Bhabha, with his vast knowledge of post-colonial writing, who will also speak at the Festival as will forensic anthropologistKathy Reichs, whose books inspired the popular American television series, Bones; human rights activist and surgeon Ma Thidawill speak of her ideals and chronicle MyanmarÂs dramatic history; author and filmmaker Nasreen Munni Kabirwill take part in a candid conversation with musical maestro Zakir Hussain;Philip Norman, author of biographies on the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Elton John, will recollect anecdotes from the Beatles famed 1968 visit to India.

Celebrated naturalist Redmond OÂHanlonwill take us on a fascinating journey deep inside the PeopleÂs Republic of Congo, where he went in search of a dinosaur rumoured to have survived in a remote prehistoric lake!

Amongst the Indian speakers are geo-strategist Brahma Chellaney who will stir up the troubled waters of the South China Sea and the Brahmaputra conundrum; C. Raja Mohanwill consider the many ideas that make China an Asian powerhouse; author and economistGurcharan Das will analyse the complex modern triptych of aspiration, greed and instant gratification and the elusive idea of frugality; poet and novelist Jeet Thayilwill discuss his latest book, The Book of Chocolate Saints, and his dominating themes of love, hate and savagery.

P. Sainath,IndiaÂs best known development reporter, will shed light on the heart of darkness within IndiaÂs agrarian and rural reality; filmmaker and environmentalist Pradip Kishen will unravel the ancient history and the rugged topography of the mysterious Aravalli hills;debut novelists PrayaagAkbar and Preti Tanejawill discuss their chillingly dystopic novels, Leila and We That Are Young respectively;Bollywood royaltySharmila Tagorewill speak to herdaughter, Soha Ali Khan, who has authored a witty memoir titled The Perils of Being Moderately Famous; the sassy septuagenarianShobhaa De,with her characteristic charisma and irreverence, will discuss turning 70, the subject of her latest book; environmental crusaderSunita Narainwill make an impassioned plea to overcome the impending global climate catastrophe;diplomat T.C.A. Raghavan, author of The People Next Door: The Curious History of IndiaÂs Relationship with Pakistan, will discuss cross-border dynamics; and columnist Vir Sanghvi will regale festival-goers with his refined palate on the unlimited potential of food.

January 2018 will also see JBM present the second edition of its extremely successful ÂThe First Book Club New Writers Mentorship ProgrammeÂ, which will now include entries for short-stories and poetry as well as works of fiction or non-fiction from first-time writers who will be chosen for a coveted opportunity of mentorship under publishing veterans. 

The Getty Foundation, the British Council, the Aga Khan Foundation and Nordic countries too have come together to support and strengthen the Festival. Harvard University Press, The Murty Classical Library, Westland, Kindle Direct Publishing, Avid Learning and Kingfisher (as Good Times Partner) have also partnered with the Festival this year.