This is the meeting place for lovers of literature. The 18th edition of the “Marathon des mots” began this Thursday, June 23 in Toulouse. On the program: 8 days of meetings, shows and readings of texts with famous writers and actors. Almost all events are free.

The 18th edition of the “Marathon des mots” began this Thursday, June 23 throughout the Toulouse conurbation. For 8 days, book lovers are invited to nearly 170 events, almost all of which are free.

The “Marathon des mots”, international literature festival in Toulouse Métropole, is the most important literary event in Occitania. It is held in Toulouse but also in 50 municipalities of the Toulouse conurbation and the Occitanie region.

It is one of the very first of its kind to have emerged and its success has been undeniable for almost 20 years.

“Our motto is to read and make people read”recites Serge Roué, the director of the festival. “And for that, we invite writers of course, but also artists, actors or singers who love words”.

For this 18th edition, a hundred writers and artists happy to lend their voices to the authors or to accompany their words with music once again activated the challenge. Figures of French literature such as Laure Adler, Philippe Besson, or the Toulousain Jean-Baptiste Del Amo. But not only…

The “Marathon des mots” is also a place for the creation and dissemination of literary performances, where the book meets the stage, where authors and artists meet and invent common projects. This is the case for the singer Jean-Pierre Mader and the author Pol Monnier. Both lovers of reading have created a show together, where reading mixes with sound testimonies and songs: “We wanted to tell the story of those who experienced exile” explains Jean-Pierre Mader “These testimonies made us come back to our own history.”

At the end of the festival, it is the huge Daniel Auteuil who will be on stage in “lunch in the air”, a musical show dedicated to the work of Paul-Jean Toulet.

Since its opening, this Thursday, June 23, the “Marathon of words” has been a full house. The places where meetings and free conferences are scheduled are all taken by storm. So much so that now we have to book on the website to make sure you have your ticket.

This 2022 edition is the second in long format over 8 days. Surely not the last in view of its success. A consume without moderation.