Wendy Harmer (Image: News Limited)

The 2013 Melbourne Writers Festival opens today, promising a bumper two-week line-up of scribes, readers and thinkers.

Conservative politician and flamboyant London mayor Boris Johnson is due to deliver the keynote address at the festival’s opening ceremony tonight at Melbourne Town Hall. Names featured at this year’s program include French writer Laurent Binet, blogger and editor Tavi Gavinson, American writer Tao Lin and Irish novelist Colm Tóibín.

This years’ festival takes place against the backdrop of the Australian federal election campaign, sure to be a recurring topic for discussion. Speaking to artsHub‘s Matt Millikan, festival director Lisa Dempster said that she was interested in “people who have a different take on the world, people who have a different perspective on the issues we think about every day here in Australia.”

“The thing about MWF is that it’s an international festival, so when I started this role I was able to look at everyone around the world and say, “Who are the best, most provocative and interesting writers and thinkers, artists and doers out there?” said Ms Dempster.

Tony Wheeler (Image: Business Today)

Australian thinkers and writers such as Claudia Karvan, Wendy Harmer and George Megalogenis are also scheduled to appear at this year’s event. Lonely Planet co-foudner Tony Wheeler will speak about travel in some of the world’s most dangerous countries as he publicises his book Dark Lands. Mr Wheeler’s address is one of over 70 free events at this year’s event. A series of free events during the second week of the program will examine the dramatic impact that technology has had on journalism over recent years.

The 2013 festival also includes Bookwallah, a roving international writers festival by Asialink Arts. Bookwallah takes five writers across India and Australia by train, meeting their readers and discussing their works in such locations as platform nine of the Chennai Central Railway station and the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Mumbai. Bookwallah’s 2013 tour will travel from Melbourne to Sydney and onwards to Brisbane by rail.

For more information about the Melbourne Writers Festival, or to book tickets to scores of events over the next ten days, go to the Melbourne Writers Festival website.