When we go for a walk, whether in the countryside or city, we pass through landscapes full of natural beauty and curiosities both visible and invisible – but though we might admire the view, or wonder idly about the name of a flower, we rarely have the knowledge to fully engage with what we see. ... John Wright – The Observant Walker
In Encounters with Artists, Richard Cork turns his impeccable skills as a critic and writer to tell the story of his encounters with some of the world’s most influential artists. From a serendipitous meeting with Pablo Picasso in Cannes in 1965 through his early days as a writer on the Evening Standard and his later role as chief ... Richard Cork – Encounters with Artists
Space: the new frontier, a wild and lawless place. It is already central to communication, military strategy and international relations on Earth. Now, it is the latest arena for human exploration, exploitation – and, possibly, conquest. China, the USA and Russia are leading the way. The next fifty years will change the face of global ... Tim Marshall – The Future of Geography
A RIGOROUS EXAMINATION OF THE WEST’S COLONIAL RECORD WHICH SEEKS TO BRING BALANCE TO OUR PERSPECTIVE OF COLONIALISM’S IMPACTIn the wake of the dissolution of the Soviet empire in 1989, many believed that we had arrived at the ‘End of History’ – that the global dominance of liberal democracy had been secured forever. Now however, ... Nigel Biggar – Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning
**Event Cancelled** We regret to say that this event has been cancelled. If you have purchased tickets, please contact us for a refund.One of our most treasured BBC broadcasters, a lover of literature, host of BBC Radio 4's Book Club, and chair for the Man Booker Prize jury, James Naughtie chooses six books that have ... James Naughtie – Desert Island Books
The lives of 40 men and women behind some of the world’s most exciting gardens. Throughout history great gardeners have risen from all walks of life. Some have been aristocratic amateur gardeners, others professional designers with an international practice. Some have come to garden-making from sister arts such as sculpture or painting; others have been ... Stephen Anderton – The Lives of the Great Gardeners
Justine Picardie spent years puzzling over the truth about Coco Chanel, peeling away the accretions of romance and lies. Since its publication in 2010, hers has become the definitive Chanel biography. To coincide with a major exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum her new edition delves even deeper into the life and legacy of ... Justine Picardie – Chanel The Legend and the Life
How They Rise and How They Fall: From Julius Caesar to Boris JohnsonWho said that dictatorship was dead? The world today is full of Strong Men and their imitators. Caesarism is alive and well. Yet in modern times it's become a strangely neglected subject. Ferdinand Mount opens up a fascinating exploration of how and why ... Ferdinand Mount – Big Caesars and Little Caesars
The definitive biography of one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century from the award-winning writer and critic, D.J. Taylor.Over seventy years since his premature death, George Orwell (1903-50) has become one of the most significant figures in western literature. His two dystopian masterpieces, Animal Farm (1945) and Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949) have together sold ... D J Taylor – George Orwell
Follow Alan into Chatsworth's irresistible world of visionaries, pioneers, heroes, villains and English eccentrics, and celebrate the men and women who have shaped the history of the estate over five centuries. With his passionate knowledge of both the house and gardens, as well as his long-established relationship with the Cavendish family, Alan is the perfect ... Alan Titchmarsh – Chatsworth
Russia’s brutal assault on Ukraine has horrified the world. But many Russians appear to be watching an entirely different war—one in which they are the courageous underdogs and kind-hearted heroes successfully battling a malign Ukraine foe. Russia’s War takes us on a journey into this parallel military and political universe. Through interviews with dozens of ... Jade McGlynn – Russia’s War
A Family Memoir of Miraculous SurvivalFrom longstanding political columnist and commentator Daniel Finkelstein, a powerful memoir exploring both his mother and his father’s devastating experiences of persecution, resistance and survival during the Second World War.Danny’s mother Mirjam Weiner was the youngest of three daughters born in Germany to Alfred and Margarethe Weiner. Alfred, a decorated ... Daniel Finkelstein – Hitler, Stalin, Mum and Dad
