Topics for conversation
July 19 2021Recent announcements about some of this year’s Festival events will certainly provide plenty to get people talking. First on the horizon is the opportunity to listen in on someone else’s conversation – a chat between the legendary war reporter Kate Adie CBE and the Festival’s own distinguished patron, Lord Waldegrave. This fascinating exchange will take place at an exclusive social evening for Friends of the Festival, planned for 26 August. If you would like to hear what these two eminent personalities have to say, join the Friends!
You don’t have to join a book club to come to our Book Group event, but it does help to read the work in advance! This year’s Magpie Lane will have you gripped from the start – a mystery set in the back lanes of Oxford where the tragically disturbed eight-year-old Felicity has disappeared at the dead of night. Lucy Atkins comes to Wells on Sunday 17 October (2.30pm) to discuss her latest runaway success in a format which gives the audience a chance to have their say – an increasingly popular event! Magpie Lane is a nail-biting story that became a best-selling thriller during the dark days of lockdown and is now available in paperback. What’s more, Waterstones in Wells are offering it with a 10% discount to readers who plan to attend the Festival.
Festival-goers will also be able to enjoy a spot of literary chat over a meal – our popular Literary Lunches, paused during Covid, look set to return provided that government guidelines allow. The first of these, on Tuesday 19 October, will feature local writer Lucy Jago with her colourful historical novel about the intrigue and skullduggery at the heart of the Jacobean Court. A Net for Small Fishes is a juicy tale to get your teeth into after a tasty pre-talk meal and Lucy will be in conversation with Andrew Miller.
More events will be revealed here in August, so stay in touch – or subscribe to our Newsletter for updates.