More Authors announced!
The programme for the Book Festival is beginning to take shape and already it’s extremely varied.
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED
We’ve already announced Polly Toynbee talking about her family in An Uneasy Inheritance: My Family and Other Radicals., Chris Stokel-Walker explaining How AI Ate the World and Sophie Hardach’s Confession with Blue Horses which is the selected book for the Big Book Group this year. In Agent Zo Clare Mulley brings a forgotten Polish heroine back to life, and transforms how we see the history of women’s agency in the Second World War
Zeinab Badawi
Chosen by The Guardian as a book to watch for 2024, An African History of Africa by Zeinab Badawi is a fascinating and epic history told through the voices of the Africans themselves. This book appeared in The Times best seller non -fiction list at the end of April and was broadcast as the book of the week on BBC R4.
Zeinab Badawi is an award-winning broadcaster, journalist and filmmaker and President of SOAS University of London. She will be talking on Sunday to Ike Anya who was so popular at last year’s festival.
Adam Kay
We are very excited to announce an event for young people (but we know lots of adults will want to come along!): Adam Kay is coming with illustrator Henry Paker. Adam is the author of This is Going To Hurt which was a literary sensation when it was published. Dexter Procter the Ten-Year Old Doctor is his first children’s fiction hardback, illustrated by Henry Paker.
It’s published in September so really will be hot of the press when Adam and Henry come on Sunday afternoon, October 6th, to Cuckfield Book Festival.
Lady Colin Campbell
Lady Colin Campbell will certainly liven up Saturday afternoon when she talks to Andrew Lownie about her book Meghan and Harry:The Real Story Persecutors or Victims.
Lady Colin scrutinises with insight, clarity and precision the evidence of the circumstances, actions and motives of Meghan and Harry with an impeccable and aristocratically experienced vision honed by five decades in the public eye.
Henry Jeffreys
Saturday night always comes to a convivial end and this year we have Henry Jeffreys coming to talk about Vines in a Cold Climate : The People Behind the English Wine Revolution. This is the definitive story of English wine and the people who transformed the reputation of English wine on the global stage. We’re hoping to have some local wine on offer for tasting too.
Creative Writing Workshop
Sue Gee will be running a Creative Writing
Workshop on Saturday afternoon in the Talbot. Numbers for this event will be limited so if you wish to come, we suggest you contact info@cuckfieldbookfest.co.uk to register your interest.
Lots more authors in the pipeline and we’ll be announcing them gradually through the next few months.
Keep an eye on the website for booking information and timings.
New Sponsor
Welcome to Hamilton Stone Design whose kitchen shop has just opened in Cuckfield High Street. Very many thanks to them for signing up as Gold Sponsors of Cuckfield Book Festival.
If your company is interested in sponsoring Cuckfest Bookfest, please go to the website for more information www.cuckfestbookfest.co.uk
An Evening with Nicolai Tolstoy
May 9th
Cumnor House School
Patrick O’Brian was one of the greatest British novelists of the 20th century, securing his place in literary history with the bestselling Aubrey–Maturin series. Join Nikolai Tolstoy, author of A Very Private Life and O’Brian’s stepson, for an insight into the genius behind the man and his writing.
Tickets £10 (including drinks and canapés) in aid of school charities. Open to all. 7pm drinks, 7.30pm start. For details, click the link below.
Cuckfield Music Festival
Cuckfield is also home to Cuckfield Music Festival and a very successful Music Fashion Show event was held on April 20th, hosted by the BBC’s Katie Derham.
The summer programme of the Music Festival runs from Thursday June 13th to Saturday June 15th 2024. All concerts will be in the beautiful setting of Holy Trinity Church, Cuckfield, with the exception of the joint Schools’ concert to be held at Warden Park School, Cuckfield.
The two lunch time concerts in the Church are free, with donations invited.
Full details on the website www.cuckfieldmusicfest.co.uk
There will be lots more announcements coming so keep an eye on the website or follow us on social media – but for now, keep the dates free!
Best wishes
Cuckfield Bookfest Team