Supported by 2ND-10TH OCT · 130 EVENTS FOR ALL AGES WHAT TO EXPECT THIS YEAR... Craig Brown, winner of the 2020 Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction. Oh to be part of an audience again, listening to talented and interesting writers, delighting us Issue 42 with their knowledge, intellect and humour. To sit with like minds, or unlike minds, laughing, © Julian Anderson crying or just being absorbed as the conversation winds it way into other worlds. We are emerging from this pandemic desperate for culture, but also, after a year of caution, still wanting to be careful. This year’s Henley Literary Festival addresses both those emotions. The programme is rich in its variety and quality, but we have also made sure it’s a safe environment. For the first time in our 15 year history we are building a 500 seater marquee as well as our two bigger venues – Christ Church and the Town Hall - so that distancing, if required, can be maintained. I have never been more proud of the tiny, covid-depleted-team who have worked so hard to build such a magnificent awe-inspring nine-day programme under such difficult circumstances. Thank you Harriet, Lou, and Kallie for your magnificence against the odds, and thanks to all our sponsors, particularly Baillie Gifford, for staying with us through the rough times and ensuring we are not only still here, but very much alive and kicking. Now we ask you, our loyal supportive audience, to come, join us. SUE RYAN, FESTIVAL FOUNDER Our free and award-winning investment trust magazine brings you writing on the ideas that shape our world. Read thought-provoking articles from our investment managers, academics and global thinkers, alongside exclusive interviews with distinguished authors. For more information, you can access the current issue from the festival website. subscribe to Trust for your chance WIN to win a £150 book voucher. BOOK TICKETS BY PHONE BOOK ONLINE AT 01491 575 948 www.henleyliteraryfestival.co.uk 10am-4pm Monday to Thursday bailliegifford.com/henley General booking opens Monday 19 July, with Friends of the Festival booking from Monday 12 July. E-Tickets will be emailed directly after purchase and can be printed at home or shown on your phone. FESTIVAL INFORMATION FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS BOOKING TICKETS COVID PROTOCOL BELL BOOKSHOP VENUE INFORMATION • All venues are within a 15 minute walk • We will be adhering to all current ADVANCED BOOKING • Local and independent The Bell Bookshop from each other. • Priority booking for Friends of the Festival government guidelines to ensure a safe will be at every event selling the authors’ • There is no parking at any of our venues. opens on Monday 12th July and tickets go on environment for all. Full details regarding books (see map for location on p87). If you are driving to Henley, please allow general sale on Monday 19th July. To become the measures we will take, can be found at • Their shop on Bell Street will also stock plenty of time to find a parking space. a Friend, please visit our website. henleyliteraryfestival.co.uk our Festival speakers’ books and the latest Please use one of the public car parks bestsellers. around Henley. • Book online at henleyliteraryfestival.co.uk • As we go to print (July), government • For venues and parking see map p87. at anytime or by phone on 01491 575948 guidance advises all Festival attendees will between 10am – 4pm, Monday to Thursday. be required to wear face masks (unless exempt). We will be going on sale with BOOKING DURING THE FESTIVAL socially distanced seating. IMPORTANT INFORMATION • Book online at henleyliteraryfestival.co.uk • If government advise, one-way systems and social distancing measures and hand TICKET INFORMATION TERMS AND CONDITIONS • Book in-person at HLF HQ, Kings Arms • We are only issuing E-Tickets this year. For full ticket terms and conditions, please sanitiser stations will be in place at all Barn, Kings Road, Henley-on-Thames, E-Tickets will be emailed directly after visit henleyliteraryfestival.co.uk/tc Festival venues. RG9 2DG, between 9am – 7pm from Sat 2 purchase and can be printed at home or October - Sun 10 October. shown on your phone. • A booking fee of £2 will be applied per order – whether made online, by phone or • Babes in arms (under 2) do not require a in person at HLF HQ (see map p87). ticket unless the event is aimed at this age • Tickets are non-refundable unless the group. event in question has been cancelled. We VIRTUAL & LIVESTREAMING reserve the right to cancel or alter events Due to the success of the online Festival in 2020, all events being held in the Marquee will • Waiting lists will be available for all sold- due to unforeseen circumstances. Tickets not only be in Henley for an in-person audience, but can also be streamed to your sitting out events. If any tickets are released or can be exchanged for other tickets of equal room! exchanged, the waiting list will be notified by or greater value until 2nd September. email and tickets can be purchased on a first- • During the Festival, any changes to the Keep an eye out for the video camera logo next to events, which indicates you can buy a come-first-served basis. programme will be emailed to attendees, livestream ticket to watch online... posted on the website and social media channels. Every Monday in September we have a virtual programme of authors who can not be in Henley during the Festival so will be joining us online (see page 6 - 7 for event details). HOW WILL ONLINE TICKETS WORK? • We’re using the world-leading platform for online events Crowdcast; there’s nothing to download - you’ll be sent an email with the link to watch on the day. • Events will work on phones & tablets but are best watched on a computer or laptop - wherever you have the strongest internet connection. • Our tech team will work with all authors & interviewers to ensure internet, sound and vision is optimised for the best possible viewing experience. • Should your internet fail you or something prevent you watching live, the event will remain available to view for another 24 hours using the link sent to you. SEPTEMBER VIRTUAL EVENTS SEPTEMBER VIRTUAL EVENTS JOHN LEWIS-STEMPEL CECELIA AHERN BRIT BENNETT & CURTIS SITTENFELD MICHAEL HOLDING WOODSTON: MY FAMILY FARM INTERVIEWED BY JO FINNEY INTERVIEWED BY DANIEL HAHN INTERVIEWED BY KATHERINE GRAINGER Mon 6 Sept · 6.30pm · Virtual · £5 Mon 6 Sept · 8pm · Virtual · £5 Mon 20 Sept · 6.30pm · Virtual · £5 Mon 20 Sept · 8pm · Virtual · £5 Author of Sunday Times bestsellers The Cecelia has sold more than 25 million copies Hear from two of America’s bestselling and In July last year during a rain delay in a Running and The Wood, John Lewis-Stempel of her books worldwide, with PS I Love most acclaimed literary novelists. Women’s Test, West Indies cricket legend turned is the only person to have won the You and Love, Rosie being made into major Prize shortlisted and British Book Awards commentator Michael spoke out emotionally Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing twice. films, and now joins us live from Ireland to Fiction Book of the Year winner, Brit Bennett about the racism he had suffered, and had In his latest book Woodston: The Biography discuss her writing career and latest novel discusses the great success of her Sunday seen all around him throughout his life. His of an English Farm, John tells the story of Freckles. Following Allegra Bell as she leaves Times and New York bestselling novel The words were so powerful he received calls his family’s farm for the first time. With his her eccentric father and unconventional Vanishing Half. Sharing the virtual stage, from famous sports stars around the world combined skills of farmer and historian, childhood behind for a bold new life in the American Wife and Prep author Curtis offering to help spread the message. In Why John digs deep into written records, the city, it is an unforgettable story of human Sittenfeld will discuss her latest novel We Kneel, How We Rise, he shares his story memories of relatives and the landscape connection, friendship and growing into your Rodham which considers how things might together with those of some of the most itself to celebrate the farmland his family own skin. have turned out if Hillary Rodham had iconic athletes in the world, including Usain have been bound to for millennia. This event is sponsored by Good Housekeeping. turned down Bill Clinton. Bolt, Thierry Henry and Naomi Osaka. LIA MIDDLETON FARIDAH ABIKE-IYIMIDE & AMY McCULLOCH JODIE CHAPMAN INTERVIEWED BY ASHLEY AUDRAIN INTERVIEWED BY DANIEL HAHN & GIOVANNA FLETCHER Mon 13 Sept · 6.30pm · Virtual · £5 Mon 27 Sept · 6.30pm · £5 Mon 27 Sept · 8pm · Virtual · £5 Inspired by her own experience of post- Instant New York Times and IndieBound Join photographer-turned-writer Jodie natal anxiety and mental health struggles bestselling author of Ace of Spades, Faridah Chapman, who will be in conversation with as a new mother, Buckinghamshire-based is also an avid tea drinker, collector of I’m a Celebrity winner and Happy Mum, criminal law barrister Lia presents her first strange mugs and recent graduate from a Happy Baby author and podcaster Giovanna novel When They Find Her. Lia will be in university in the Scottish Highlands. She Fletcher. Described as ‘a modern day conversation with Ashley Audrain, author will discuss writing Young Adult fiction and Atonement meets David Nicholls’ by Emma of the hugely successful The Push (who held becoming a bestselling author with Amy Gannon, Jodie’s debut novel Another Life is her first author event as part of our virtual McCulloch - co-author of the Young Adult about first loves, and how all relationships festival last year).