The son of ex-pat parents in colonial Nigeria, Edward Stourton was sent back to Britain to be educated by Benedictine monks at Ampleforth, at the time when, it was later revealed, the school and monastery were the setting for serial abuse cases. He then went up to Cambridge, where his life as an undergraduate gave ... Edward Stourton – Confessions

Adam Sisman’s biography of John le Carré, published in 2015, provided a revealing portrait of this fascinating man; yet some aspects of his subject remained hidden. Nowhere was this more so than in his private life. Apparently content in his marriage, the novelist conducted a string of love affairs over five decades. To these relationships ... Adam Sisman – The Secret Life of John Le Carré

In 1642, William Waller and his Parliamentarian army came to Winchester with destruction on their minds. They forced entry to the magnificent cathedral that had stood on the site for over 600 years and began to smash things. In the cathedral’s holiest place, ten beautiful mortuary chests rested as they’d done since the 7th century. ... Cat Jarman – The Bone Chests

For the past decade, Lemn Sissay has composed a short poem as dawn breaks each morning. Life-affirming, witty and full of wonder, these poems chronicle his own battle with the dark and are fuelled by resilience and defiant joy. Let the Light Pour In is a collection of the best of these poems, and a ... Lemn Sissay – Let The Light Pour In

An open mic event for local writers and poets Join us to hear local poets and writers read and perform their work. To sign up to participate please contact us ... Poetry Slam with Angie Porter

How do you welcome someone new into your home and heart? A week before Christmas 2022, former BBC journalist and award-nominated podcaster Rory Cellan-Jones received a special delivery that changed ... Rory Cellan-Jones – Sophie From Romania

John Suchet, previously well-known TV news reporter and newscaster and now regular presenter on Classic FM, is an acknowledged authority on Ludwig van Beethoven. He has written seven books on ... John Suchet – In Search of Beethoven: A Personal Journey

The legendary ‘Red Devils’ were among the finest combat troops of the Second World War. Created at Churchill’s instigation in June 1940, they began as a single parachute battalion of ... Saul David – Sky Warriors

A sweeping and epic story of adventure and courage, injustice and triumph, The Map of Bones by Kate Mosse is the sequel to the number one bestselling The Ghost Ship.Olifantshoek, ... Kate Mosse – The Map of Bones

Britain’s best-selling historian writes the first definitive account of the famous televised SAS storming of the Iranian embassy in London in 1980 On April 30, 1980, six heavily armed gunmen ... Ben Macintyre – The Siege

12 Midday Sunday 13 October 2024 During this walk the Chairman and Academic Director of the Thomas Hardy Society, Mark Damon Chutter, will guide you through Dorchester and Fordington to explore the world of architect, writer and poet Thomas Hardy (1840–1928), the  Dorset dialect poet and philologist, William Barnes (1801–1886), and the LGBT pioneer Sylvia ... Wessex Writers – A Literary Walk

In the words of the late Gillian Ayres, this is a book about “what can be done with painting.” Drawing on decades of conversations with practicing painters, acclaimed author Martin Gayford offers intimate insight into the practice, meaning, and potential of this timeless medium. As a way of making images, pigment applied to any surface ... Martin Gayford – How Painting Happens (and why it matters)