ways with words

@ dartington

14 - 18 July, 2021

A 5 - D A Y F E S T I V A L I N T H E H E A R T O F D E V O N C E L E B R A T I N G W O R D S A N D I D E A S Words of Welcome

e live in a time of a global Wpandemic and political turbulence with the most vulnerable being the most effected. And yet there are also books. The startling growth of festivals such as this, the keen appetite of audiences for talks, exchange of ideas and debate, means that Ways With Words is a place where diversity, talent and difference can be explored and celebrated.

Polly Toynbee & David Walker (Festival Presidents)

ell…here we are. Who could have Wthought that the last year would mean no contact with family, no meeting up with friends and no festivals.

We are utterly thrilled to be able to offer live events this July - something that seemed impossible at times during 2020. We are delighted to welcome a small live audience and also a remote audience via live streaming. Sharing ideas and coming together (whether in the festival or from the comfort of your own home) has never been more important. We have worked our socks off to bring the programme together in incredibly short order and only in response to the Government green light.

We hope you enjoy the programme whether in a live venue or from the comfort of your sofa. Thank you all for your support. It has been a very difficult year for the festival and we can’t express how grateful we are to Friends for supporting us and all of you who generously donated to keep the Ways With Words going. Anyway….here is hoping for good weather, good company and good times.

Leah Varnell (Managing Director) W e d n e s d a y 1 4 t h J u l y G r e a t H a l l Rock RosePhotography

1 0 a m 1 S a s h a S w i r e £ 1 4 A P o l i t i c a l P l u s - O n e G r e a t H a l l

What is it like to be the partner of a British politician in modern Britain? For over two decades Sasha Swire diarised the trials and tribulations of her time as a partner to an MP. She pulls back the curtain on her Westminster life and key political moments including the election of David Cameron and the Brexit referendum. The big reveal is frank, wonderfully indiscreet and humorous.

D i a r y o f a n M P ’ s W i f e ( L i t t l e , B r o w n )

1 2 p m 2 I s y S u t t i e 1 4 A N e w S t a r t G r e a t H a l l £

Musical comedian, actor and writer Isy Suttie played Dobby in the sitcom Peep Show, has written for the Guardian and Observer and appeared as regular contributor to Radio 4. Isy’s new novel explores the trials and tribulations of a 30-something working part time in an eccentric bookshop who struggles to find her path after a traumatic breakup and move back to the childhood home in the Peak District.

J a n e i s T r y i n g ( W e i d e n f e l d & N i c o l s o n )

P o l l y T o y n b e e & D a v i d W a l k e r 2 p m 3 £ 1 4 What Lies Ahead? G r e a t H a l l Post Covid euphoria will soon burn off. What lies ahead includes climate change, flooding, the massive task of decarbonising the UK, huge shifts in how cars are powered, and how we cook our food and heat our homes. We should be preparing for the next pandemic says Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief science adviser. Journalists and festival presidents, Polly Toynbee and David Walker, explore what it will take if, by 2030, an already hugely unequal Britain is not to become more unbalanced.

The Lost Decade 2010–2020, and What Lies Ahead for Britain (Guardian Faber Publishing) W e d n e s d a y 1 4 t h J u l y G r e a t H a l l

4 p m 4 S a l l e y V i c k e r s £ 1 4 L a y i n g O p e n t h e H u m a n H e a r t G r e a t H a l l

In her latest work, ‘Grandmothers’, novelist Salley Vickers explores how three women subtly alter when, through their encounters with each other, they discover that the past is always with us and that we go on learning and changing until the very end. "Vickers sees with a clear eye and writes with a light hand. She’s a presence worth cherishing in the ranks of modern novelists.” Philip Pullman

G r a n d m o t h e r s ( V i k i n g )

A n n e S e b b a 6 p m 5 £ 1 4 A Failure of Humanity G r e a t H a l l

Ethel Rosenberg was executed in 1953 for espionage on behalf of the Soviet Union, a crime she almost certainly did not commit. She was 37 and the mother of two children. Her story is a catastrophic failure of justice and the nature of her conviction makes her story controversial even today. Biographer and journalist, Anne Sebba, uses Ethel’s prison correspondence and interviews with those who knew her to unravel the tragic story.

E t h e l R o s e n b e r g : A n A m e r i c a n T r a g e d y ( O r i o n )

8 p m 6 N a t a l i e H a y n e s £ 1 4 Looking Inside Pandora's Jar G r e a t H a l l

Gods, men and monsters are the mainstay of Greek myths, their tales endlessly retold across millennia. Rarely do their retellings focus on the women at the heart of these ancient stories and, if they do, the women are often monstrous, vengeful or vain. Natalie Haynes, a passionate classicist, redresses this. From Pandora and Hera to Athena and Artemis, we are reintroduced to the women of Greek legend in all their glory and nuance.

P a n d o r a ' s J a r : W o m e n i n G r e e k M y t h s ( P a n M a c m i l l a n ) W e d n e s d a y 1 4 t h J u l y S t u d i o O n e

7 P h i l i p M a r s d e n 9 . 4 5 a m 1 4 A V o y a g e o f t h e I m a g i n a t i o n S t u d i o O n e £

Travel writer Philip Marsden had never skippered a boat anywhere he couldn’t reach by lunchtime. Yet he sailed north from his home in Cornwall to the Summer Isles, near the top of Scotland, in an old wooden sloop. On the way, he navigates the choppy waters of Ireland and the Western Isles of Scotland. He learns about their deep history through the people he meets and the tales he uncovers. Prepare for adventure and mythical islands.

T h e S u m m e r I s l e s ( G r a n t a )

1 1 . 3 0 a m 8 F r a n c e s W i l s o n £ 1 4 T h e R e h a b i l i t a t i o n o f D H L a w r e n c e S t u d i o O n e

One hundred years after the publication of Women in Love, biographer and critic Frances Wilson discusses the rehabilitation of DH Lawrence. He is remembered as a nostalgic modernist, a Priest of Love, a misogynist, a critic of genius, and a sceptic who pioneered the genre we now celebrate as autofiction. Frances Wilson presents a complex, courageous and often comic fugitive, careering around a world in the grip of apocalypse..

B u r n i n g M a n : T h e A s c e n t o f D H L a w r e n c e ( B l o o m s b u r y )

1 . 1 5 p m 9 C h r i s B r y a n t £ 1 4 T h e S e c r e t S t o r y o f t h e G l a m o u r B o y s S t u d i o O n e

MP for Rhondda, Chris Bryant tells the astonishing story of a group of young, queer MPs, whose visits to Berlin changed the course of WW2. Witnessing the Nazis' brutality first- hand, they were among the first to warn Britain about Hitler. Chamberlain hated them, branding them 'the glamour boys'. He had their phones tapped and threatened to expose them. At a time when even the suggestion of homosexuality could land you in prison, these men demonstrated extraordinary courage.

T h e G l a m o u r B o y s ( B l o o m s b u r y )

3 p m 1 0 J o W i l l e t t £ 1 4 Mary Wortley Montagu, Scientist and Feminist S t u d i o O n e

When Lady Mary Wortley Montagu witnessed the process of inoculation in Turkey she knew that she could use it to save her young daughter. She also knew that she would face opposition. Her courageous action led to the eradication of smallpox and prevented millions of deaths. Mary was more than a scientific campaigner. She was an important early feminist, writing powerfully about the position of women. BAFTA award winning TV producer, Jo Willett, reflects on how Montagu’s legacy have been remembered, though often ignored.

T h e P i o n e e r i n g L i f e o f M a r y W o r t l e y M o n t a g u ( P e n & S w o r d H i s t o r y ) T h u r s d a y 1 5 t h J u l y G r e a t H a l l

1 0 a m 11 S i m o n H e f f e r £ 1 4 T h e D i a r i e s o f H e n r y ' C h i p s ' C h a n n o n G r e a t H a l l

Born in Chicago, Henry Channon settled in England after the Great War and served as a Conservative MP. His diaries, elegant and unfettered, were remarkable. Channon used his sense of drama to capture, among other things, the social antics of London and the Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson scandal. Historian and journalist Simon Heffer has edited Channon's diaries to bring us the most complete version of the diaries ever published.

H e n r y ‘ C h i p s ’ C h a n n o n : T h e D i a r i e s ( V o l u m e 1 ) : 1 9 1 8 - 3 8 ( P e n g u i n R a n d o m H o u s e )

1 2 p m 12 W e n d y H o l d e n £ 1 4 S t e p b y S t e p : C a p t a i n T o m M o o r e G r e a t H a l l

Captain Tom Moore became the nation’s hero during the first pandemic lockdown. His 100 years of life took him from the foothills of the Yorkshire Dales to the battlefields of Burma and the Himalayas. But it was during the first pandemic lockdown that, from his English garden, the nation began to hear his story and be inspired by his remarkable character. Biographer Wendy Holden shares his remarkable life.

T o m o r r o w W i l l B e A G o o d D a y a n d L i f e L e s s o n s ( P e n g u i n R a n d o m H o u s e )

2 p m 13 L u k e H a r d i n g £ 1 4 T h e K r e m l i n v s W e s t e r n D e m o c r a c y G r e a t H a l l

Western democracy is at stake. From Salisbury and Washington to the Ukraine, the Kremlin has attempted to reshape politics in their own mould. Award-winning journalist Luke Harding shares his shocking analysis of the connections between Putin, Trump, Brexit and the dark web. After years of investigations, he reveals the web of deception and murder that allowed Russia to sway the 2016 US election and back a Brexit referendum. S h a d o w S t a t e : M u r d e r , M a y h e m a n d R u s s i a ’ s R e m a k i n g o f t h e W e s t ( G u a r d i a n F a b e r P u b l i s h i n g ) T h u r s d a y 1 5 t h J u l y G r e a t H a l l

4 p m 14 D e b o r a h M o g g a c h £ 1 4 L i f e C h a n g e s G r e a t H a l l

Novelist and screenwriter Deborah Moggach has been chair of the Society of Authors and worked for PEN’s Executive Committee, as well as being a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. She will discuss her latest novel which explores the world of an abandoned wife and her unusual attempt to return to the world of the living through the world of the dead as she attends funerals of people that she has never known.

T h e B l a c k D r e s s ( H e a d l i n e )

C h r i s A t k i n s 6 p m 15 £ 1 4 O u r C r e a k i n g a n d C o s t l y P r i s o n S y s t e m G r e a t H a l l

Documentary-maker Chris Atkins was sentenced to five years in prison after becoming embroiled in a dodgy scheme to raise money for a film. He ended up in HMP Wandsworth, one of Europe’s most notorious prisons. A tin of tuna will get a prisoner clean clothes and self-harm won’t raise an eyebrow. The stories are shocking and the humour dark but Chris’ experiences reveal the true cost of our antiquated prison system.

B i t o f a S t r e t c h : T h e D i a r i e s o f A P r i s o n e r ( A t l a n t i c B o o k s )

G a v i n E s l e r 8 p m 16 £ 1 4 I1s6 T h i s H o w B r i t a i n E n d s ? G r e a t H a l l

The British state has survived in its current form for 400 years but political forces are pulling at the seams. Can we prevent it from disintegrating? Gavin Esler is one of our finest journalists. Exploring British history and the complexities of Britishness, he offers an articulate and thoughtful commentary on the rise of English nationalism and a possible breakup of the United Kingdom.

H o w B r i t a i n e n d s : E n g l i s h N a t i o n a l i s m a n d t h e R e b i r t h o f 4 N a t i o n s ( A p o l l o ) T h u r s d a y 1 5 t h J u l y S t u d i o O n e

1 7 C l a i r e W i l c o x 9 . 4 5 a m 1 4 The Fabric of our Lives S t u d i o O n e £

As a curator in fashion at the Victoria & Albert Museum, Claire Wilcox catalogues, conserves and exhibits clothes centuries old. Now she curates her own story through the lens of clothes and dress. Weaving her expert knowledge of fashion with her life story, she celebrates how clothes allow us to fashion ourselves and reflects on the memories woven into them. Through her curatorial eye, we appreciate how clothes mark the passage of time, our gains and losses.

P a t c h W o r k : A L i f e A m o n g s t C l o t h e s ( B l o o m s b u r y )

P h i l i p H o a r e 1 1 . 3 0 a m £ 1 4 1 8 In Pursuit of the Leviathan S t u d i o O n e

Albrecht Dürer changed the way we saw nature through art. From his prints in 1498 of the plague-ridden Apocalypse to his hyper-real images of animals and plants, his art was a revelation: it showed us who we are but it also foresaw our future. His visions remain powerful and seductive, even now. Philip Hoare encounters medieval alchemists, modernist poets and eccentric emperors in his endeavour to discover why Dürer’s art endures.

A l b e r t a n d t h e W h a l e ( 4 t h E s t a t e )

O l i v e r C r a s k e 1 . 1 5 p m 19 1 4 Ravi Shankar at Dartington S t u d i o O n e £

Ravi Shankar, the sitar maestro, earned a global following for Indian music and lived one of the 20th century’s most extraordinary lives. He also had a strong connection to Dartington. After his first visit in the early 1930s he returned for several solo performances culminating with his ensemble piece Sanmelan in 2004. Oliver Craske’s biography, Indian Sun, was a Book of the Year in The Times, Spectator, TLS and BBC Music. He discusses Shankar with Professor William Gallois of Exeter University.

I n d i a n S u n : T h e L i f e a n d M u s i c o f R a v i S h a n k a r ( F a b e r & F a b e r )

3 p m 20 M a r t i n G a y f o r d £ 1 4 Hockney in Normandy S t u d i o O n e

Over lockdown David Hockney was completely absorbed by his four acres in the Pays d’Auge and the themes of light, colour, space perception, water and trees that have fascinated him for decades. Drawing on his conversations and correspondence with the artist, Martin Gayford explores Hockney’s new Normandy drawings and paintings alongside works by Van Gogh, Monet, Bruegel and others.

S p r i n g C a n n o t B e C a n c e l l e d ( T h a m e s & H u d s o n ) F r i d a y 1 6 t h J u l y G r e a t H a l l

R a c h e l T r e t h e w e y 1 0 a m 21 £ 1 4 The Churchill Sister G r e a t H a l l

Diana, Sarah, Marigold and Mary, were the daughters of Winston Churchill. Marigold died tragically young but her sisters lived dramatic lives and witnessed some of our most important historic events. They would have shone out in any other family but they were surrounded by a larger-than-life cast. Journalist and accomplished biographer Rachel Trethewey sheds light on an intimate saga driven by complex family dynamics.

T h e C h u r c h i l l G i r l s : T h e S t o r y o f W i n s t o n ' s D a u g h t e r s ( T h e H i s t o r y P r e s s )

1 2 p m 22 M a t t h e w D e n n i s o n £ 1 4 The Queen G r e a t H a l l

Few Britons can recall a world without Elizabeth II as our head of state. Her life spans nearly a century of global history, from before the Great Depression to the era of Covid-19. She has been served by fifteen prime ministers and witnessed thirteen US presidencies. The world has transformed and our society has shifted seismically. Matthew Dennison traces her remarkable life and the achievements and disappointments on the way.

T h e Q u e e n ( A p o l l o )

2 p m 23 M a r c u s d u S a u t o y £ 1 4 A l g o r i t h m s a n d A r t G r e a t H a l l

With over 2,000 years of knowledge to draw on, Oxford mathematician Marcus du Sautoy examines his passion for shortcuts. Shortcuts have enabled much of human progress: constructing the first cities around the Euphrates 5,000 years ago; determining the scale of the universe; today’s algorithms even help us find a new partner. He also explores his latest work - a play in which he and co-writer Victoria Gould use the unlikely bedfellows of mathematics and theatre to navigate the furthest reaches of our world.

T h i n k i n g B e t t e r : T h e A r t o f t h e S h o r t c u t ( 4 t h E s t a t e ) a n d I i s a S t r a n g e L o o p ( F a b e r ) F r i d a y 1 6 t h J u l y G r e a t H a l l

4 p m 24 A l i s o n W e i r £ 1 4 K a t h a r i n e P a r r - t h e S i x t h W i f e G r e a t H a l l

Two husbands dead, a boy and a sick man. And now Katharine is free to make her own choice. The ageing king's eye falls upon her... Alison Weir concludes her detailed historical fiction accounts of Henry VIII's wives. Reviewer Sarah Gristwood states, 'The Six Tudor Queens series has been...a groundbreaker in showing the light historical fiction can shed on historical fact. It's wonderful to see it go out on such a high note.' Alison - the top-selling female historian in the UK- shares her insights into Katharine Parr's life.

S i x T u d o r Q u e e n s : K a t h a r i n e P a r r , T h e S i x t h W i f e ( H e a d l i n e R e v i e w )

25 M o n t y H a l l s 6 p m £ 1 4 The Galapagos: A Place Like No Other G r e a t H a l l

In 2017 Monty Halls and his family moved to the Galapagos. Enraptured by their beauty but heartbroken by the devastation inflicted upon these ecologically vital islands, they returned two years later to support urgent conservation work. Explorer, marine biologist, ex-Royal Marine, and now President of the Galapagos Conservation Trust, Monty Halls shares his family’s experience and explains why the archipelago must be protected.

M y F a m i l y a n d t h e G a l a p a g o s ( H e a d l i n e )

8 p m 26 L i v T o r c £ 1 4 An Evening of Poetry and Film with Liv Torc G r e a t H a l l

Liv Torc is a poet, artist and ideas weaver who plunges into the vast caverns and dormant volcanoes of the human and planetary condition. A Radio 4 Slam winner, a former Bard of Exeter, host of The Rainbow Fish Speakeasy and of The Hip Yak Poetry Shack. Liv runs the poetry stage at WOMAD, the Hip Yak Poetry School and the lockdown haiku and photography project, Haiflu. Now in 2021 she is preparing to tour Haiflu Ever After the show, supported by Arts Council England.

S h o w M e L i f e a n d H u m a n E m e r g e n c y ( B u r n i n g E y e ) F r i d a y 1 6 t h J u l y S t u d i o O n e

27 A n d r e w M a r t i n 9 . 4 5 a m 1 4 Steam Trains – A Very British Obsession S t u d i o O n e £

Britain has around 180 heritage railways. Often, they have been reopened after closure by British Railways. In some cases, where track was removed, it has been relaid. Why the British are so keen on old railways? Railway enthusiast Andrew Martin rides the lines, meets the preservationists and discusses diesel versus steam, Dr Beeching, and Thomas the Tank Engine.

S t e a m T r a i n s T o d a y ( P r o f i l e B o o k s )

28 D e a n B u r n e t t 1 1 . 3 0 a m 1 4 Why Mental Health Goes Wrong S t u d i o O n e £

One in four people experiences a mental health problem each year. Depression and anxiety alone afflicts over 500 million people. What is it about modern life that has so impacted our mental health? Drawing on 20 years of experience in neuroscience, psychology and psychiatry, Dean Burnett, author of international bestseller Idiot Brain, explores why these problems arise and how to tackle them.

P s y c h o - L o g i c a l ( F a b e r & F a b e r )

J i m D o w n 1 . 1 5 p m 29 £ 1 4 Life on the Frontline of the Covid Crisis S t u d i o O n e

As a doctor running the intensive care unit at a top London hospital, the unexpected is always around the corner, and life and death decisions are an everyday occurrence. But nothing had prepared Jim Down and his team for the events of spring 2020. He tells the story of how he and his team transformed their hospital and took on the biggest challenge in the history of the NHS.

L i f e S u p p o r t ( V i k i n g )

3 p m 30 J o h n S u c h e t 1 4 A Portrait of Mozart S t u d i o O n e £

Former news reporter and Classic FM presenter, John Suchet presents a revealing portrait of Mozart: blessed with a happy disposition yet suffering from bouts of depression, successful from a young age yet often struggling financially as he fought to make his way in the world under the shadow of his domineering father. Naturally mischievous and obsessed with toilet humour, this is not the divine-like figure we have come to expect.

M o z a r t : T h e M a n R e v e a l e d ( E l l i o t t & T h o m p s o n ) S a t u r d a y 1 7 t h J u l y G r e a t H a l l

1 0 a m 31 S t u a r t L a w r e n c e £ 1 4 The Fire of Positivity G r e a t H a l l

Stephen Lawrence was 18 when he was murdered in an unprovoked racist attack. Stuart, his younger brother, was 16. The Lawrence family battled for years to win justice for Stephen and expose the systemic racism that blighted the murder investigation. Stuart is now an educator with 20 years of experience as a youth engagement specialist. Determined to empower young people to change themselves and the world for the better, Stuart shares his experience to help them find their voice.

Silence is Not an Option: You Can Impact the World for Change (Scholastic)

32 R o r y C e l l a n - J o n e s 1 2 p m £ 1 4 Switched On, Plugged In G r e a t H a l l

The smartphone is one of the most extraordinary tools invented in the last century and has brought huge changes. As BBC News' technology correspondent, Rory Cellan-Jones has a particular insight into the impact of technology. The optimistic view is that smartphones and social media help us to work, create and communicate on our own terms. But what is the true cost of hyperconnectivity for our democracy, our lives and our health? Rory Cellan-Jones explores this technological revolution.

A l w a y s O n : H o p e a n d F e a r i n t h e S o c i a l S m a r t p h o n e E r a ( B l o o m s b u r y )

J a n e F e a v e r 2 p m 33 £ 1 4 C r a z y G r e a t H a l l

Adele Geras writes 'Jane Feaver's Crazy is a wonder. Is it a memoir? is it a novel? Who cares? It's amazing, heart-breaking and life enhancing all at once.' Wendy Cope's review states ' This book is brilliant - brave, truthful and intelligent.' Jane - until recently lecturing in Creative Writing at Exeter University - will be answering questions about her latest writing which is wowing reviewers.

C r a z y ( C o r s a i r ) S a t u r d a y 1 7 t h J u l y G r e a t H a l l

4 p m 34 E . V . A d a m s o n / A n d r e w W i l s o n £ 1 4 S e c r e t s , O b s e s s i o n a n d L i e s G r e a t H a l l

E.V. Adamson is the pseudonym of bestselling writer Andrew Wilson, the biographer of Patricia Highsmith, Sylvia Plath and Alexander McQueen, and the author of four novels featuring Agatha Christie as a detective. He talks about the inspiration for his new crime novel dealing with an horrific murder- suicide in which he explores the unreliability of memory, the dark side of confessional journalism and individual search for truth. Can we trust our memories?

F i v e S t r a n g e r s ( H a r p e r C o l l i n s )

6 p m 35 M i c h a e l B u e r k £ 1 4 Sinful Glory - a Story of Empire G r e a t H a l l

Broadcaster and host of Radio 4's Moral Maze Michael Buerk grew up as a child of empire and later spent much of his life as a BBC Television News foreign correspondent reporting on its dissolution and some of the consequences of the headlong rush to independence. He casts a reporter’s eye on the extraordinary story of how Britain achieved a global hegemony unmatched before or since; and tries to find a way through the moral maze of imperial rights and wrongs.

8 p m 36 J o h n C r a c e £ 1 4 P o l i t i c a l A p o c a l y p s e - M a y b o t t o B o j o G r e a t H a l l

There is now only one certainty in life. When things can’t possibly get worse, they absolutely will. After three years of Maybot malfunctioning and Brexit bungling, welcome to BoJo. Satirist John Crace will get you through the darkest of political days - or failing that, will at least help you see the funny side.

D e c l i n e a n d F a i l : R e a d i n C a s e o f P o l i t i c a l A p o c a l y p s e ( G u a r d i a n F a b e r P u b l i s h i n g ) S a t u r d a y 1 7 t h J u l y S t u d i o O n e

37 G u y S h r u b s o l e 9 . 4 5 a m 1 4 Who Owns Dartmoor? S t u d i o O n e £

Guy Shrubsole is an environmental campaigner and author of Who Owns England? - an investigation into who owns our land and why it matters. Since moving to Devon last year, he's become fascinated by Dartmoor: who owns it, its commons, and the temperate rainforests that still cling to its edges. This talk will focus on who owns Dartmoor, whilst also looking further afield.

W h o o w n s E n g l a n d ? ( W i l l i a m C o l l i n s )

1 1 . 3 0 a m 38 P e t e r R i c k e t t s £ 1 4 Lessons for an Uncertain Future S t u d i o O n e

The international order put in place after WW2 is coming to an end. Disastrous foreign wars, recession, the meteoric rise of China and India and the COVID pandemic have undermined the power of the West and unleashed nationalism. One of Britain’s most experienced senior diplomat, Sir Peter Ricketts, who served as Permanent Secretary to the Foreign Office, highlights the key dilemmas Britain faces. From trade to security, he argues that international co-operation are the surest ways to prosper.

H a r d C h o i c e s : W h a t B r i t a i n D o e s N e x t ( A t l a n t i c B o o k s )

1 . 1 5 p m 39 J a c q u e l i n e R i d i n g £ 1 4 Hogarth’s World S t u d i o O n e

Drop into the world of William Hogarth with art historian and former curator of the Palace of Westminster, Jacqueline Riding. She paints a vivacious portrait of the Georgian satirist and the degenerate London he savagely documented. We meet an ambitious man, a philanthropist, satirist, devoted husband and artist who aspired to the highest principles even while charting humanity's vices.

H o g a r t h : L i f e i n P r o g r e s s ( P r o f i l e B o o k s )

3 p m 40 H e l e n S c a l e s £ 1 4 Last Wilderness S t u d i o O n e

The deep is the single biggest habitable space on the planet and home to fantastic creatures that have evolved unique ways to survive in extreme conditions. It is also the last vast wilderness on Earth. Explore the deep sea with marine biologist Dr Helen Scales as she reveals the complexity and importance of the creatures of the abyss and talks about our relationship with the deep, how we imagine, explore and exploit it.

T h e B r i l l i a n t A b y s s ( B l o o m s b u r y ) S a t u r d a y 1 7 t h J u l y U p p e r G a t e H o u s e O v e r s t e p s D a y

41 D a n a L i t t l e p a g e S m i t h , S u s a n J o r d a n , D o r e e n H i n c h l i f f e £ 7 Brand New

Oversteps Day start with three poets new to 1 0 a m Oversteps, whose books have been published this last U p p e r year: Dana Littlepage Smith, Susan Jordan and Doreen G a t e H o u s e Hinchliffe

42 C h r i s t o p h e r N o r t h , A l w y n M a r r i a g e , E l i s a b e t h R o w e £ 7 Happy Returns

Three of our popular writers, whose books have been out 1 1 . 3 0 a m for longer, make welcome return appearances. Christopher North, Alwyn Marriage and Elisabeth Rowe U p p e r join us and share some of their work. G a t e H o u s e

43 D e v o n s h o w c a s e Devon is fertile ground for poetry and Oversteps is pleased to include a number of Devon poets in their list. £ 7 In an hour of short, quick-fire readings, Richard Skinner, Sue Proffitt, Mark Totterdell, James Turner and Simon 2 p m Williams will join four of this morning’s poets who also happen to be Devon-based: Dana Littlepage Smith, U p p e r Susan Jordan, Elisabeth Rowe and Alwyn Marriage. G a t e H o u s e S u n d a y 1 8 t h J u l y G r e a t H a l l Harry Borden

1 0 a m 44 J a m e s D a v i e s £ 1 4 Capitalism and the Mental Health Crisis G r e a t H a l l

In Britain alone, more than 20% of the adult population take a psychiatric drug in any one year. Yet despite a prescription epidemic, mental illnesses are growing in number and severity. James Davies argues that we should set aside the medical notion that the problem rests solely with the sufferer and see mental distress as a legitimate reaction to wider social problems. He examines why this individualistic view of mental illness has been promoted, why it is misplaced and the danger it presents.

Sedated : How Modern Capitalism Created Our Mental Health Crisis (Atlantic)

1 2 p m 45 J u l i e S u m m e r s £ 1 4 When War was in Vogue G r e a t H a l l

Audrey Withers was the editor of British Vogue from 1940 to 1960. During WW2 she seized the opportunity to cover more than fashion. Under her eye, and with contributions from eminent writers and photographers, British Vogue detailed the plights of the European countries and lives ripped apart by war. Her approach caused conflict with Edna Woolman Chase, editor of American Vogue. Biographer and historian Julie Summers draws on Vogue archives to reveals the titanic struggle between them.

D r e s s e d F o r W a r : T h e S t o r y o f A u d r e y W i t h e r s ( S i m o n & S c h u s t e r )

46 P o l l y S a m s o n 2 p m 1 4 Utopian Dreams and Innocence Lost G r e a t H a l l £ It’s 1960 on the Greek Island of Hydra and revolution is in the air among a circle of artists living tangled lives, ruled by bohemian writers Charmian Clift and George Johnston. In this circle there is a triangle: the writer Axel Jensen, his dazzlingly wife Marianne, and a young Canadian poet named Leonard Cohen. Acclaimed novelist Polly Samson discusses utopian dreams, innocence lost, freedom and creativity with journalist Peter Stanford.

A T h e a t r e f o r D r e a m e r s ( B l o o m s b u r y ) S u n d a y 1 8 t h J u l y G r e a t H a l l

4 p m 47 A l w y n M a r r i a g e £ 1 4 P o p u l a t i o n E x p l o s i o n G r e a t H a l l

A poet, lecturer and novelist, Alwyn Marriage is the author of twelve books. In a future where medical science has eliminated almost all life-threatening illnesses, one woman races to escape a Government that is responding with deadly methods. Alwyn unpacks challenging social issues in a story of survival and hope. She explores how her work weaves themes of art, music and dance through the narrative, to produce a story that moves from Salisbury, via the art galleries of Paris, to a new and very different life in a remote cove in Cornwall.

The Elder Race

6 p m 48 S a t i s h K u m a r £ 1 4 The Road to Peace G r e a t H a l l

At the age of 90, Bertrand Russell was convicted of civil disobedience for his anti-nuclear protests. His imprisonment was a call to action for Satish Kumar. What could he contribute to the struggle for peace? He and E.P. Menon embarked on an 8,000-mile peace pilgrimage from India to Washington via the four nuclear capitals of the world - Moscow, Paris, London and Washington. Satish shares a story of trust, resilience and courage.

P i l g r i m a g e f o r P e a c e : T h e L o n g W a l k f r o m I n d i a t o W a s h i n g t o n ( G r e e n B o o k s )

49 M a t t H a r v e y 8 p m £ 1 4 C a r e l e s s W h i s k e r G r e a t H a l l

Poet Matt Harvey spent lockdown staring into space, writing viral poetry in the style of Longfellow’s Hiawatha, collaborating on chart-topping choral works and crafting strange poems inspired by the curious art of Claudia Schmid. He will share works from Claudia and his forthcoming book ‘Careless Whisker’ – sequel to the best-selling ‘Sit!’ – along with ruminations on 200,000 years of human evolution (condensed into two minutes) and the importance of green hydrogen to a post-carbon economy. Plus the usual stuff about human frailty and the unbridgeable chasm between reality and our dreams.

C a r e l e s s W h i s k e r a n d S i t ( U n i c o r n ) S u n d a y 1 8 t h J u l y S t u d i o O n e

9 . 4 5 a m 50 P e t e r S t a n f o r d £ 1 4 Journeys of Meaning S t u d i o O n e

The rise in popularity of the ancient pilgrim path the Camino is part of a global phenomenon. Why this is happening in a world that is increasingly sceptical, secular and scientific, with formal religious affiliation in steep decline? Journalist Peter Stanford reflects on pilgrimage past and present, and explores their relevance today, as a new generation follows in the footsteps of travellers from the past.

P i l g r i m a g e ( T h a m e s & H u d s o n )

J o n a t h a n D r o r i 1 1 . 3 0 a m 51 £ 1 4 The Science of Plants S t u d i o O n e

Often beautiful, sometimes deadly but constantly ingenious, plants are sources of life and delight, myth and mayhem. From the seemingly familiar tomato and dandelion to the eerie mandrake and Spanish ‘moss’ of Louisiana, via the early histories of beer and the contraceptive pill, scientist and TV producer Jonathan Drori digs into the science of plants and how their worlds are entwined with our history, culture and folklore.

A r o u n d t h e W o r l d i n 8 0 P l a n t s ( L a u r e n c e K i n g )

1 . 1 5 p m 52 R a y m o n d T a l l i s £ 1 4 The Reality of Freedom S t u d i o O n e

The question of free will has preoccupied human thought for millennia. Philosopher, cultural critic and retired clinical neuroscientist Raymond Tallis challenges the idea that the laws of nature wire us into a causally closed world that imprisons us. He shows that our capacity to discover and exploit these laws is central to understanding the nature of voluntary action and to reconciling free will with our status as material beings.

F r e e d o m . A n I m p o s s i b l e R e a l i t y ( A g e n d a P u b l i s h i n g )

53 D e r e k G o w 3 p m £ 1 4 Rewilding Devon S t u d i o O n e

Farmer and rewilding specialist Derek Gow has played a significant role in the reintroduction of the Eurasian beaver, the water vole and the white stork in England. He is now rewilding a 300-acre farm near Lifton, Devon. He discusses how reintroducing animals like beavers, wildcats, and wolves, holds the key to restoring the country’s biodiversity, and combating the environmental crises.

B r i n g i n g B a c k t h e B e a v e r ( C h e l s e a G r e e n ) Your Festival Planner

W e d n e s d a y 1 4 t h J u l y F r i d a y 1 6 t h J u l y ( c o n t ) G r e a t H a l l S t u d i o O n e

1 Sasha Swire 10am 27 Andrew Martin 9.45am

2 Isy Suttie 12pm 28 Dean Burnett 11.30am

3 Polly Toynbee & David Walker 2pm 29 Dr Jim Down 1.15pm

4 Salley Vickers 4pm 30 John Suchet 3.00 pm

5 Anne Sebba 6pm S a t u r d a y 1 7 t h J u l y 6 Natalie Haynes 8pm G r e a t H a l l S t u d i o O n e 31 Stuart Lawrence 10am 7 Philip Marsden 9.45am 32 Rory Cellan-Jones 12pm 8 Frances Wilson 11.30am 33 Jane Feaver 2pm 9 Chris Bryant 1.15pm 34 E.V. Adamson (Andrew Wilson) 4pm 10 Jo Willett 3.00 pm 35 Michael Buerk 6pm T h u r s d a y 1 5 t h J u l y 36 John Crace 8pm

G r e a t H a l l S t u d i o O n e

11 Simon Heffer 10am 37 Guy Shrubsole 9.45am

12 Wendy Holden 12pm 38 Peter Ricketts 11.30am 13 Luke Harding 2pm 39 Jacqueline Riding 1.15pm 4pm 14 Deborah Moggach 40 Helen Scales 3.00 pm 15 Chris Atkins 6pm U p p e r G a t e H o u s e 16 Gavin Esler 8pm 41 Littlepage Smith, Jordan, Hinchliffe 9.45am S t u d i o O n e 42 North, Marriage, Rowe 11.30am 17 Claire Wilcox 9.45am 43 Devon Showcase 1.15pm 18 Philip Hoare 11.30am

19 Oliver Craske 1.15pm S u n d a y 1 8 t h J u l y 20 Martin Gayford 3.00 pm G r e a t H a l l

44 James Davies 10am F r i d a y 1 6 t h J u l y 45 Julie Summers 12pm

G r e a t H a l l 46 Polly Samson 2pm

21 Rachel Trethewey 10am 47 Alwyn Marriage 4pm

22 Matthew Dennison 12pm 48 Satish Kumar 6pm

23 Marcus du Sautoy 2pm 49 Matt Harvey 8pm

24 Alison Weir 4pm S t u d i o O n e 25 Monty Halls 6pm 50 Peter Stanford 9.45am 26 Liv Torc 8pm 51 Jonathan Drori 11.30am 52 Ray Tallis 1.15pm

53 Derek Gow 3.00 pm Booking your tickets

Box Office Dates & Info Concessions We operate a ‘carers go free’ policy for people in Priority Booking for receipt of Carer’s Allowance. Carers must reserve Friends of Ways With Words their seat ahead of the festival as, with current restrictions, capacity is strictly monitored and we Priority Booking for Friends of Ways With Words cannot guarantee entry to those who have not begins on TUESDAY 15TH JUNE booked in advance.

Friends will be able to book online or by phone. Proof of entitlement for the above will be required.

More info about how to book online will be sent to Data Protection Friends via the Friends Newsletter Ways With Words will not pass on your details to any other organisation. General Booking Terms & Conditions General Booking opens for the public on TUESDAY 22ND JUNE The right is reserved to substitute speakers and vary the advertised programme if necessary. All Book Online information is correct at the time of going to press. Please refer to our website (wayswithwords.co.uk) Book online at wayswithwords.co.uk. for full details of our policy on cancellations, ticket refunds and exchanges, and on lost tickets. Book by Phone

Telephone: 01803 867373

Telephone lines are open 10am– 3pm, Monday–Friday.

Please have your event numbers and your payment card ready before phoning. We accept Visa and Mastercard.

Ticket Types: In person and live stream

A limited number of in person tickets are available for events in the Great Hall, Barn and Upper Gate House.

Live stream tickets are available for all events in the Great Hall. They all cost £4.

Covid Restrictions

Before visiting the festival please visit our website for the most up-to-date information regarding Covid measures. Venue Locations

Great Hall & Upper Gate House Studio One

Both the Great Hall and the Upper Gate House are Due to Covid restrictions we have taken the decision located in the central courtyard of Dartington Hall. to relocate all our Barn events to Studio One in Space, Lower Close on the Dartington Estate. This The Great Hall will be directly opposite you as you change for 2021 allows us to open the relocated walk through into the courtyard through the main events to a larger in-person audience and also entrance. allows us to implement better safety measures.

The Upper Gate House site above the Dartington Studio One is approximately a 3-minute walk from Estate visitor centre. You can access it via the a the courtyard and main carpark. Walking routes are slight of exterior steps within the courtyard, or by marked on the map below. If you park in the walking around to the back of the courtyard. overflow carparks the walk is slightly longer. It is possible to drop passengers at the bottom of the drive leading up to Studio One but please be mindful of other road users.

Upper Gate House

Great Hall

Studio One General Information Thanks to...

Travelling to Dartington Official Bookselling Partner

Dartington is roughly 25 miles southwest of Exeter and about a four hour drive from London.

By car Take the M5, A38 and A384 from Plymouth, the A385 and then follow signs for Dartington Hall. Ways With Words Patrons By train Paddington is the mainline station from London. Totnes is the station nearest to Dartington Jonathan Dimbleby, Nicholas Evans, Sir Michael Hall. Dartington Hall is a five minute taxi ride from Holroyd, Dame Penelope Lively, James Long, Blake the station. Morrison, The Rt. Hon. Lord Owen, Lord O’Hagan, Peter Stanford, Salley Vickers Parking Non-executive Directors Parking charges apply on the Dartington Estate. Please leave plenty of time to get to your event as Anne Oxborough you may need to park at a distance from the venues Hamish Dunbar and there may be queues at the ticket machines. Chloe Bar-Kar

(NB Residents will receive a permit on arrival which entitles the holder to free parking in the designated Good, Close and Best Friends car parks during your stay) Mr Colin Goldsmith, Brenda & John Wynn, Mrs Accessible parking is provided in the main car park Elizabeth Piercey, Marlene Eyre and in the Barn car park. A drop off point for the Barn is situated in front of the archway approximately 30 metres from the Barn. A drop off Ways With Words Team point from the Great Hall is situated at the White Hart approximately 50 metres from the Hall. Festival Curator: Jane Fitzgerald and Anne Oxborough Mobility Access Marketing Manager & Customer Care: Bryony Tilsley Front of House Managers: Jess Morris, There is wheelchair access to the Great Hall, Barn Karen Hearty, Zsa Zsa Shea, Chris Brooks, and Upper Gatehouse, but please let us know when Florence Fitzgerald you buy your tickets as wheelchair spaces are Technical Advice: Chris Edwards and Ben Woodhouse limited and must be reserved in advance. Technicians: Olly Webb and Ninian Harding There is access to the White Hart bar and dining rooms and to some bedrooms. Thank you to the generous and energetic team of volunteers who support the festival in a variety of Hearing Impairment ways before, during and after the festival.

There is an induction loop system in place in the Dartington Hall Great Hall (please ask the stewards where to sit to take advantage of this) and an Infra Red assisted General Manager: Sam Walton hearing system in the Barn. The Upper Gate House Guest Services and Revenue Manager: Kelly Passmore is unamplified. Technical Manager: Patrick Collins