The City of Cape Town's Central Library and Bellville Libraries are to host a number of events as part of this year's Open Book Cape Town Literary Festival.

The annual festival, which is held from 20-24 September and falls over the National Heritage Day long weekend, features internationally acclaimed and emerging authors who read to and engage with audiences at 150 events spread over numerous venues across the city.

Authors included on the literary bill for this year's festival include Lionel Shriver, Mark Kurlansky, Justine Picardie, Michela Wrong, Esi Edugyan, Alan Hollinghurst, Noo Saro-Wiwa, Kiran Desai, Lola Shoneyin, Kathryn Scholz, Mark Forsyth, Neal Stephenson, James Gleick, Eliane Glaser and Joanne Harris, while author and illustrator Emily Gravett is on the bill for the Children's Festival, which runs from 17-19 September 2012.

Other venues include the Fugard Theatre, the District Six Museum, The Slave Lodge, The National Gallery and the Booklounge.

There are a number of events leading up to the festival.

Prolific writer Helen Bain will read to children at the Central Library on Tuesday 18 September 2012 at 11:00.

On Wednesday, 19 September 2012 at 15:00, Dr David Culpin of the University of St Andrews will speak at the Bellville Library about the history of the early nineteenth century Cape settlement, and early South African naval history.

Local author Linda Fellowes will speak at the Central Library from 10:00 to 11:00 on Wednesday 19 September, while Emily Gravett will be reading and drawing from 15:00 to 16:00 on the same day.

The Central Library will also be celebrating National Heritage Day with storytelling and an interactive memory box, with local author Linda Fortune.

For more information, check the festival website, or for updates on the City Library events, check their website or Facebook page.