Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Louis de Bernires' fourth novel, grew from cult status to become one of the most widely-read books of recent years.
When Hollywood lined up Nicholas Cage for the film, de Bernires knew things had gone too far.
Responding gamely to a question from the audience, he confessed to being "irritated" by the film and said he had agreed to a European art film but had been powerless to veto the blockbuster treatment.
De Bernires aims for greater control next time. He is writing "an even longer novel" about the First World War Gallipoli campaign and the Greek-Turkish catastrophe.
Answering a question from broadcaster Stephen Phillips, he described the pressure of following the success of Captain Corelli as having "the whole world looking over my shoulder".
The author read a new short story called A Night Off For Prudente De Moraes, inspired by a brush with a robber in Rio de Janeiro.
One punter still insisted on a reading from de Bernires' play Sunday Morning At The Centre of the World, promised by the festival brochure.
De Bernires explained the brochure was misinformed but, obligingly, borrowed a copy of the play and read a short extract.
This was an enthralling start to the literature festival.
Review by Andy Fisher
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