Working with Words                                                                               

Meet 2 young authors recommended by the Penguin Readers Group. Clare Clark writes dark historical novels - The Great Stink and The Nature of Monsters. Catherine Bailey’s first book is a non-fiction work, Black Diamonds, about Wentworth House in Yorkshire - an estate grown rich on coal and yet with owners beloved of the miners whose work made them rich. Why not bring your book group and join the discussion with Winifred Robinson.

(You are welcome to stay and enjoy a glass of wine with the authors after the show. Penguin goodie bags to take home!)

Crime: Ancient and Modern   20 million fans world-wide follow the fortunes of Anne Perry’s detectives: Thomas Pitt (Long Spoon Lane) and William Monk (Dark Assassin) are sleuths in the glamour and squalor of Victorian England; the Reavley family (We shall Not Sleep) brave the mud and blood of the trenches and the shadowy world of espionage during WW1 to solve their crimes. Mark Billingham’s DI Tom Thorne (Lazy Bones, Death Message), on the other hand, practises his dark arts of detection in the thoroughly modern urban landscapes of today. What appeals to a crime writer about different periods of history? Anne and Mark discuss their craft with Patrick Neale (of Jaffe & Neale Bookshop in Chipping Norton).

African Odysseys    In 2004, Tim Butcher, War Correspondent for the Daily Telegraph and a Richard & Judy Book of the Year finalist followed in the footsteps of Henry Stanley (He of ‘Dr Livingstone, I presume,’ fame.) and made the dangerous journey down the Congo river. Blood River is the riveting account of this journey. He and Lawrence Potter, teacher, traveller and author of This the World, share their African experiences with Peter Kyte.  

Wit and Wisdom       Writer, barrister and creator of Rumpole of the Bailey, John Mortimer, talks to Garry O’Connor about his long life and career and the people he has met along the way. He shares his reflections on the importance of not giving advice, the pointlessness of pursuing happiness, the wisdom of Yeats and John Stuart Mill and the joy of hearing the echoes of his father’s voice in the laughter of his grandchildren.

Festival Programme 2007

In the Know     Political Journalism   Daily Mail political columnist, Peter McKay shares his wit and wisdom about the comings and goings of those who shape our world - from Bush and Blair to I’m a Celebrity… and England’s cricketers. In conversation with Jeremy Deedes, fellow  journalist, editor and ex MD of the Telegraph, Peter blows a few cobwebs from the corridors of power - no doubt, exposing some ’cracks’ along the way!                                                                                                                                                                      

DIY Publishing    Self-Publishing   The nuts and bolts of going it alone -  where do you start, what are the pitfalls and is it worth it in the end?  Biographer and novelist, Garry O’Connor (Chaucer’s Triumph) and journalist and children’s author, Emma Lee-Potter (The Rise and Shine Saturday Show) discuss their own experiences of self-publishing with Zoe Johnson.

‘There’s No Cure for being Alive’   Novel writing Acclaimed author Salley Vickers (Miss Garnet’s Angel) talks to Winifred Robinson about her newest novel The Other Side of You, a delicate evocation of the voyage of discovery and healing that takes place when a person’s story is truly heard, and explores the compelling power of love and art to transform our lives. 

 ‘Touches of sweet Harmony’      Shakespeare & Music     Helen Wilcox, Professor of English, and Allan Wilcox, performer and musician, offer a festive exploration of the role of music - both real and metaphorical ‘harmony’ in the work of ‘the Bard’. Illustrated with readings from Shakespeare’s plays and poems and performances of some of the music that he has inspired. 

Public Lives, Private Worlds     Novel writing   From the romantic spires of 1930’s Oxford to the grim realities of Nazi Germany, from the civilized world of  friendship, loyalty and aspiration to the sordid world of war politics, the July plot, betrayal and death, The Song Before it  is Sung takes us on a journey deep into the hearts of men. Prize-winning novelist, Justin Cartwright discusses his new novel, and the importance of reading, with Emma Lee-Potter, journalist and writer. 

Choosing words — carefully  Russian Literature & Translation           Felicity Cave and Rosamund Bartlett, both experts in Russian culture, share their enthusiasms and discuss Rosamund’s current works-in-progress: a biography of Tolstoy and a translation of Anna Karenina. Does one  influence the other? Can a ‘great’ novel be ‘great’ in translation? What are the delights and dilemmas of working in this literary minefield?

Influence and inspiration — what makes the writer?    Literary Lives   From the 1960’s to the present Margaret Drabble’s contribution to the English Literary landscape has continued apace - prize-winning novelist, biographer of Arnold Bennett and Angus Wilson, editor of the Oxford Companion to English Literature. From A Summer Birdcage to the most recent, The Sea Lady, her novels have explored and chronicled our times. ‘I write to find out what I don’t know,’ she once said. Today she talks to Garry O’Connor  about her favourite books and the major influences on her work.

Festival Programme 2006

Andrew Motion - Poet Laureate

The Poet Laureate reads and discusses his poetry and life. An evening of great promise.

Interviewed by sports enthusiast, Boris Starling, Marcus Armytage, author of Hot Cherry and racing correspondent for The Telegraph and Robert Edwards, author of the official Life of Stirling Moss and long-time contributor to the motoring press and The Telegraph, share the particular pressures and pleasures of ‘capturing the moment’ in the world of sport. 

‘Recipes’ for Rainy Days

Radio 4 presenter, Winifred Robinson leads Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall, author of the Good Granny Guide, and Lesley Garner, author of Everything I've Ever Done That Worked, in a conversational ramble round the garden of life and love, miracles and muddles, feats and failures…and how to survive them!

Thriller writing Boris Starling, whose Messiah terrified households across the land and whose current thriller Vodka has gained wide acclaim talks to Mark Billingham, actor and comedian turned crime novelist and inventor of Tom Thorne, the London-based detective. What kind of writer sets out to scare his reader? What kind of reader agrees to this contract of fear? 

Michael Bourdeaux, widely respected as the foremost expert on Religion in Russia, talks about the final legacy of the Russian Communism when Gorbachev freed religion from the shackles of the past. How did the Jews, Muslims and Christians react? Were they ready for this extraordinary moment? Chaired by Felicity Cave, herself an expert in Russian culture and history.

Paths to Paradise 

Barnaby Rogerson, owner of Eland Publishing*, will share his knowledge of the Muslim world and of Muslim thought based on his books Great Muslims and The Prophet Mohammed. Chaired by Horatio Clare, author of the acclaimed memoir, Running for the Hills.

Book-Buying: The State of the Art

Panel Discussion. Internet sites like Amazon are challenging the position of the high street bookshop. Who buys a full-price book nowadays? How does this affect the writers? Why change? Why stay the same? Hear what our panellists have to say. Join the debate. Panellists: Patrick Neale of Chipping Norton Bookshop and Claudia Fitzherbert of QI bookshop and first-time novelist, Sarah Paton Wiseman.The session is chaired by local crime novelist and professional speaker, Adrian Magson.

Churchill, Wounded Warrior

 Michael Dobbs of House of Cards fame looks at the man behind the myth, based on his latest historical work Churchill’s Triumph. According to the Guardian, this is ‘a thinking man’s bestseller’. Thinking women are, of course, welcome to this session! Chairman: Garry O’Connor 

Festival Programme 2005

Second Time Around          

Radio presenter, Winifred Robinson, talks to Prue Leith, author of  A Lovesome Thing, Bella Pollen, author of Hunting Unicorns and Monique Charlesworth, author of A Children’s War.  All of these writers had successful  careers before becoming novelists. How did they get from ‘there’ to ‘here’? What’s the story behind the story-teller?

Whodunnit? A Question for All Ages  

Meet Eleanor Updale, creator of Victorian gentleman, Montmorency and his criminal alter ego, Scarper. Then crime novelist, Sally Spedding, will lead the workshop. Learn the art of suspense and the practicalities of plot as Sally unveils the mysteries of crime writing and gives you a chance to have a go. This is a session for all ages and young people are especially welcome.  Linda Newbury presented the prize for the Junior Limerick competition in the Main Hall at the end of this session

Beyond the Tapestry Walls - Women in History                  

Historian, Helen Forde, talks to Anne Crawford, editor of Letters of Medieval Women, and historian, Professor John Guy, Whitbread Biography Winner 2005 for My Heart is my Own, a biography of Mary, Queen of Scots.

From Churches to Chamber Pots   

Roger Neill talks to Garry O’Connor about his most recent biography of the Pope, to Mark Bostridge, biographer and editor of Lives for Sale - Biographers’ Tales and to Matthew Sturgis about his acclaimed biography of William Sickert. Find out about the pleasures and pitfalls of writing biography from those who know.

Reviewing—An Enemy of Promise and Talent?  

Rachel Billington, novelist, reviewer and journalist; Tom Payne, reviewer for the Telegraph; and Robert Cooper, reviewer for the Spectator join Garry O’Connor for a critical look at literary reviewing today. Should writers be reviewers? Are reviews becoming increasingly vicious? Bring your own views and join in the debate.              

Perilous Penmanship - Slings and Arrows of the Writing Game             

In conversation with David Exham, David Lodge discusses his most recent book Author, Author: A Novel  a fictionalised life of Henry James, which looks at the ‘lean years’ when literary success eluded James in spite of his brilliance. David Lodge is both a prize-winning novelist and eminent literary critic.

Shocks Among the Chandeliers - Eccentric Peeresses of the 20th Century   

Led by Lady Juliet Townsend. Hugo Vickers, author of Gladys, Duchess of Marlborough, tells the gripping tale of this social meteorite, from her life at Blenheim to the mysterious years in Chacombe and St Andrew’s Psychiatric Hospital in Northampton. Louise Carpenter, author of The Unlikely Countess, talks about the rise of Lily Budge from lady’s maid to wife of an earl.         

Final Applause      

Garry O’Connor talks to the irrepressible Ned Sherrin, author of Quotes and Anecdotes, broadcaster and   raconteur, who shares with us his irreverent views on life, the universe and everything! Ned presented the prize for the Adult Limerick competition at the end of this session

Festival Programme 2004 

A Gift for Life    

Led by educationalist, David Exham, with authors, Marie Stubbs, Linda Newbery and Rhian Tracy. Marie tells the story of her transformation of a failing school and Rhian and Linda share their experiences of young people  and their relationship to books and stories in the modern world ~ what issues engage them, why reading matters, how to open up the world of the imagination through books. After this event, Marie Stubbs presented the Literary competition prizes to the winners from Kings Sutton Primary School in the Main Hall.

Seeds, Sparks & Lightbulbs - Where Stories come from…       

Sarah Kennedy, TV and radio presenter, talks to mother and daughter, Angela Huth and Candida Crewe,  about the nature of ideas and how they are transformed into stories.  Followed by novelist, Barbara Trapido, who talks about her family and childhood in South Africa and the part    they play in the stories she writes. 

‘Tell Us of the Road’            

Led by Lady Juliet Townsend with explorer, Robin Hanbury Tenison, and adventurer, Rona Cant. Robin talks about his book, Exploring Explorers and Rona about A Challenge Too Far. 

Ageing Gracefully   

John Townsend, bookseller and antiquarian, unravels some of the reasons that make a book collectable and  valuable. If you have an interesting book, bring it along; John will be available after the talk to answer question

Creation & Creativity       

Rosemary Baird, art historian and author, talks about the 18th Century literary life of Mrs Montagu and   introduces modern novelist, Salley Vickers. Salley discusses how her novels deal with the continuing process of creativity in our lives.

A Life in Your Hands       

Led by Roger Neill with Garry O’Connor, Humphrey Carpenter and James Runcie.   Searching for the truth: hear how prominent biographers balance fact and fiction in exploring their subjects’ lives.

We hope you will join us in March 2009

Top of page

HOME PAGE