Lewes Speakers Festival 22-24 July

This year’s Lewes Speakers Festival, which takes place from 22nd-24th of July 2016 (www.lewesspeakersfestival.com) brings together a varied and fascinating line-up of speakers: Ken Livingstone explains his vision for the Labour Party and the Left; Sir Malcolm Rifkind gives his memoirs; and former Director-General of the National Trust Fiona Reynolds, states her reasons for fighting for beauty rather than just economic growth. BBC presenter Dan Cruickshank, relates the History of Architecture in 100 Buildings; Philip Mansell speaks on Aleppo; and Former BBC Chief Economics Correspondent Hugh Pym, gives the inside story of the banking crisis. Lewes-speakers-logo   Former Secretary of State for Wales and Northern Ireland Peter Hain, talks about the future of socialism and former Headmaster of Eton Tony Little, relates his progressive views on how education should evolve. Andrew Lownie tells the story of the double agent and traitor Guy Burgess from his book which won national biography of the year and Frances Welch explains the life of Rasputin. Azi Ahmed, a Muslim woman, recounts what it was like to complete her SAS training and local author Lesley Thomson speaks about her latest detective book. BBC presenter, Diarmaid MacCulloch, presents the reformation and Ruth Dudley Edwards tells the story of the seven founding fathers of the Irish Republic. Political expert James Boys assesses Hillary Clinton’s future and John Gimlette recounts his journey through Sri Lanka.   Former senior Foreign Correspondent for the Economist John Andrews, explains the reasons behind the level of conflict in today’s world; Peter Hennessy relates his conversations with some of Britain’s most iconic senior politicians and Prime Ministers; and Times writer, David Aaronovitch, relates his family’s communist roots. Tickets are now available at www.lewesspeakersfestival.com _______________________________________________________

Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, Harrogate 21-24 July

Beer and books have proved the perfect partners in crime; the 14th Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival takes place at Agatha Christies’ old haunt, the Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate, from 21-24 July this year with over 90 authors, and is expected to sell 14,000 tickets to crime aficionados from all over the world. Theakston's-Crime-logo 2016 sees Val McDermid join Special Guests Martina Cole, Jeffery Deaver, Linwood Barclay, Tess Gerritsen, Gerald Seymour and Luther-creator, Neil Cross. Programming Chair ‘King of the police procedural’ Peter James, recently won the Crime Writers’ Association’s highest honour, the CWA Diamond Dagger award. His Brighton detective, Roy Grace series has been adapted for theatre with The Perfect Murder starring Shane Richie and Jessie Wallace. The Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival is ranked as one of the top three literary festivals in the UK by The Guardian, and featured in The Independent’s ‘The 50 Best Festivals’. Behind the Festival atmosphere, the event is one of the most important in the literary calendar, with publishers, agents, publicists and authors attending. The Festival also delivers the most prestigious of crime fiction awards, the annual Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. For more information and to book tickets visit www.harrogateinternationalfestivals.com/crime