barnesbookfest.org
25 - 27 September 2026
Festival Schedule Pre-Festival Events Sunday 20 September 7pm
Antony Penrose
St Mary’s Barnes
Thursday 24 September 6.30pm
Michael Whitehall
Home SW13
Festival Weekend Friday 25 September 4pm
Joanne Paul
St Mary’s Barnes
6pm
Gyles Brandreth
St Mary’s Barnes
8pm
William Boyd
St Mary’s Barnes
Saturday 26 September 10am
Angela Young
Barnes Green Centre
12pm
Rory Carroll
St Mary’s Barnes
12pm
Catharine Edwards
Barnes Green Centre
2pm
Peter Chappell
St Mary’s Barnes
2pm
Jane Rogoyska
Barnes Green Centre
4pm
Sajid Javid
St Mary’s Barnes
4pm
Louisa Treger
Barnes Green Centre
6pm
Sebastian Faulks
St Mary’s Barnes
6pm
Alice du Parcq
Barnes Green Centre
8pm
Andrew Graham-Dixon
St Mary’s Barnes
Barnes BookFest 2026
Sunday 27 September 10am
Adam Hart
Barnes Green Centre
10am
Alexander Ballinger
Olympic Studios
12pm
Alex Edmans
St Mary’s Barnes
12pm
Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton
Barnes Green Centre
2pm
Antony Beevor
St Mary’s Barnes
2pm
Wendy Hitchmough
Barnes Green Centre
4pm
Vince Cable
St Mary’s Barnes
4pm
Rukky Brume and
Barnes Green Centre
Leodora Darlington 6pm
Robert Verkaik
St Mary’s Barnes
6pm
Emily Howes
Barnes Green Centre
8pm
Tim Rice
St Mary’s Barnes
Additional Information To book tickets and pre-order books or for more information please visit barnesbookfest.org or visit: The Barnes Bookshop, 98 Church Road, Barnes SW13 0DQ Tickets cost £15 / £18 / £20 depending on the event. There is a 25% saving on all festival books pre-ordered with event tickets. Tickets are non-refundable but can be exchanged for another event. Programme is subject to change, please visit the website for the latest details. All venues have disabled access. If you also require accessible seating, please contact bookfest@barnesbookshop.com in advance to reserve a place. For all queries, please email bookfest@barnesbookshop.com or call 020 8741 0786
Pre-Festival Events
Antony Penrose with Hannah Watson
Michael Whitehall with Patricia Hodge
Sun, 20 Sept - 7pm St Mary’s Barnes
Thu, 24 Sept - 6.30pm Home SW13
Antony Penrose, son of the extraordinary photographer Lee Miller, gives an exclusive talk about the work and life of his mother. Beautiful, bewitching and astonishingly talented, Lee Miller defied all societal expectations. The range of her photographic work was phenomenal, from avant-garde and surrealism to fashion shoots in war-torn London to the haunting images of the liberation of Europe after WWII. Her war career was captured in the film Lee (2023) starring Kate Winslet, and the recent highly acclaimed retrospective of her work at Tate Britain celebrated her as one of the 20th century’s most urgent artistic voices. In conversation with curator Hannah Watson, Antony shares his thoughts on the courage and daring of Lee Miller.
The multi-talented Michael Whitehall author, producer, talent agent, podcaster and co-comedian with son Jack Whitehall - entertains at a special dinner event hosted at the popular Barnes restaurant Home SW13. In conversation with theatre icon Patricia Hodge, he reflects on the bizarre working life of a theatrical agent. Captured in his recently re-issued memoir Shark Infested Waters, Michael was involved with the careers of many eminent actors including Tom Courtenay, Colin Firth, Dorothy Tutin, Edward Fox, Jack Davenport and Judi Dench. Giving a funny - and occasionally waspish - view of the world of entertainment, Michael contrasts the dazzle of theatre, television and film with the realities of showbiz.
/ In conversation with
/ In conversation with
Hannah Watson is currently the Director of Trolley Books and was formerly the cofounder and director of the TJ Boulting gallery in Fitzrovia.
Patricia Hodge is an award-winning actress, known for her many film and television roles and her extensive work in theatre. She is a patron of Barnes BookFest.
The Lives of Lee Miller
Shark Infested Waters
This event is organised with Home SW13 and includes dinner and drinks. Tickets are only available from Home SW13 (020 8748 0393)
Festival Weekend
Joanne Paul with Andrew Hadf ield
Gyles Brandreth
Thomas More
Oscar Wilde and the Candlelight Murders
Fri, 25 Sept - 4pm St Mary’s Barnes
Fri, 25 Sept - 6pm St Mary’s Barnes
Leading Tudor historian Dr Joanne Paul discusses the life of Thomas More, one of the most famous figures of Tudor history, with Professor Andrew Hadfield. From a loyal servant to religious martyr - was More a saintly scholar as shown in Robert Bolt’s play A Man for All Seasons, or the stubborn zealot and vindictive persecutor of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall? Paul deconstructs the conflicting interpretations of this complex, brilliant and troubled man. She reveals More as an intellectual and political giant of his age, who was central to the making of modern Europe. Her definitive biography includes new archival discoveries and is a richly told story of family, faith and politics in a volatile and rapidly changing world.
The inestimable Gyles Brandreth recreates fin-de-siècle London and Paris, the world of celebrated poet, wit, playwright and raconteur Oscar Wilde. It sets the scene for The Candlelight Murders, the first in a series of detective novels inspired by and featuring Oscar Wilde. The mystery begins when Wilde – then the literary sensation of his age – discovers a naked corpse, posed by candlelight in a dark upstairs room. Wilde determines to solve the murder, using his peculiar genius and his ability to access all of London life. What follows is a gripping narrative that explores his secret world, his surprising friendships, his complex marriage, and his unusual association with Scotland Yard.
/ In conversation with Andrew Hadfield is Emeritus Professor at the University of Sussex and a Fellow of the British Academy.
William Boyd with Harriett Gilbert
Angela Young
Cold Sunset
The Aristocrat and The Able Seaman
Fri, 25 September - 8pm St Mary’s Barnes
Sat, 26 Sept - 10am Barnes Green Centre
Bestselling writer William Boyd returns to Barnes BookFest to talk about the third novel in his compelling espionage series, featuring the accidental spy Gabriel Dax and his enigmatic handler Faith Green. Published this September, Cold Sunset takes Dax to Cold War Moscow to rescue the celebrated defector Kit Caldwell. It’s a place smouldering with secrets, darkness and danger, where loyalties blur and motives shift and change. Following on from Gabriel’s Moon and The Predicament, the third book is another tautly woven mystery showing Boyd’s storytelling genius and his ability to create shadowy worlds fraught with moral complexity. William Boyd is in conversation with BBC Radio 4 presenter, Harriett Gilbert.
Angela Young is the greatgranddaughter of one of the few survivors of the 1912 Titanic disaster. She talks about the Countess of Rothes, recounting what she saw and how she tried to help as the ship went down. It is a remarkable overview of events that night; the Countess finds herself in Lifeboat No.8 working with able seaman Thomas Jones to save as many passengers as possible. Ignoring class boundaries and gender, they worked together to navigate the small life craft for more than seven hours, among towering icebergs in the North Atlantic Ocean. Based on eyewitness accounts published for the first time, the book shows the bravery of these two unlikely heroes and considers why so very few people survived the tragedy.
/ In conversation with Harriett Gilbert is a broadcaster and writer; she presents A Good Read on BBC Radio 4 and World Book Club on the BBC World Service.
Rory Carroll with Maurice Walsh
Catharine Edwards with Peter Stothard
Sat, 26 Sept - 12pm St Mary’s Barne
Sat, 26 Sept - 12pm Barnes Green Centre
Rory Carroll is a specialist in Ireland’s tangled relationship with Britain and the author of the bestselling Killing Thatcher. His latest book focuses on the rogue British diplomat Sir Roger Casement. A leading figure of the establishment, Casement turned his back on the British Empire during WWI to fight for Irish independence. In the eyes of British officials, Casement was the first among traitors and he was hunted down by the legendary British spy chief, Reginald ‘Blinker’ Hall. He was executed by hanging. Rory talks to Maurice Walsh about his research, discovering new source material and recently declassified government files, and how the story still raises profound questions about honour, courage and the price of patriotism.
At a moment when democratic institutions seem increasingly fragile and the power of persuasion is under scrutiny, distinguished classicist Catharine Edwards points to Cicero, an orator and politician whose words have reached across generations. In conversation with fellow classicist Sir Peter Stothard, Catharine discusses her gripping biography of Cicero, a man caught between principle and ambition. He became the greatest orator of his age, rising from provincial obscurity to the highest elected office in Rome. Brutally murdered, his turbulent life unfolded in parallel with the collapse of the Roman Republic. Yet he believed speech itself could defend and his response to the rise of autocratic power is just as thoughtprovoking and relevant today.
/ In conversation with
/ In conversation with
Maurice Walsh is a journalist and foreign correspondent. He is the author of Bitter Freedom: Ireland in a Revolutionary World: 1918-1923.
Peter Stothard is a leading classicist and writer on Ancient Rome. He was previously editor of The Times and the Times Literary Supplement.
A Rebel and A Traitor
Orator
Peter Chappell with Michael Crick
Jane Rogoyska with James McConnachie
Sat, 26 Sept - 2pm St Mary’s Barnes
Sat, 26 Sept – 2pm Barnes Green Centre
The Times reporter Peter Chappell dares to ask what a Reform government might really mean in practice. Talking to Nigel Farage biographer Michael Crick, he discusses his research with civil servants and political insiders and projects what could happen if the Reform Party came to power. He focuses on three key Reform pledges - immigration, scrapping net-zero and cutting taxes – and the implications of these at a national and international level. There is also a warning; the British political system invests the prime minister with significant power and it largely relies on good politicians being voluntarily good. Whatever our individual reactions, Chappell asks: do you or don’t you want to risk putting this man in Downing Street?
Jane Rogoyska presents a compelling account of the agony of Europe during the Second World War. Shortlisted for the 2026 Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction, Hotel Exile focuses on the elegant Hotel Lutetia in Paris. Once the meeting place for Gide, Joyce, Picasso and Matisse, it connects desperate stories of exile. Initially, the hotel was an intellectual beacon for those fleeing Germany as Hitler gained power, in darker times it was requisitioned by German military intelligence, and later again it became a haven for refugees returning from the concentration camps. In conversation with Sunday Times writer James McConnachie, Rogoyska shows what happens at the edges of war and the complex decisions people make when they are trying to survive.
/ In conversation with
/ In conversation with
Michael Crick is a well-known writer and broadcaster. He is the author of One Party After Another: The Disruptive Life of Nigel Farage.
James McConnachie reviews non-fiction for the Sunday Times and is the editor of The Author magazine.
What If Reform Wins
Hotel Exile
Sajid Javid with Libby Spurrier
Louisa Treger with Wendy Joseph KC
Sat, 26 Sept - 4pm St Mary’s Barnes
Sat, 26 Sept - 4pm Barnes Green Centre
Sir Sajid Javid former Conservative MP (2010 – 2024) and Cabinet minister, shares the story of his childhood with Libby Spurrier. The Colour of Home describes growing up with poverty, racism and the tension of living within two cultures – the IndoPakistani traditions of his parents versus the world of their new home in the UK. Recounting run-ins with the police, trouble at school and risking estrangement from his family, Sajid talks about adversity and refusing to accept the limits seemingly imposed by his background. It is a remarkable journey, from ‘outsider’ to the most senior roles in British government and is both a personal and a social history of race, class and aspiration in contemporary Britain.
Acclaimed novelist Louisa Treger discusses writing about Ruth Ellis, with former Old Bailey Judge, Wendy Joseph KC. In 1955 Ruth Ellis was famously the last woman to be executed in Britain. A Fatal Love is a fictional account of Ruth’s story as she awaits her trial in Holloway Prison, remembering her childhood during the Second World War and the events leading to the death of her lover, David Blakely. The story navigates secrets, betrayal and a broken justice system. Wendy Joseph KC is the bestselling author of Unlawful Killings and Rough Justice, which analyse the British justice system and how the law works when it comes to murder. In July this year, Ruth Ellis was granted a conditional pardon by His Majesty the King.
/ In conversation with
/ In conversation with
Libby Spurrier is a writer and abridges fiction and non-fiction works for radio. Her work is regularly featured on Radio 4’s Book of the Week.
Wendy Joseph KC practised at the Bar for over thirty years. She became a Circuit judge in 2007 and was appointed to the Old Bailey from 2012-2022.
The Colour of Home
A Fatal Love
Sebastian Faulks with Simon Heffer
Alice du Parcq with Amanda Carr
Sat, 26 Sept - 6pm St Mary’s Barnes
Sat, 26 Sept - 6pm Barnes Green Centre
Acclaimed and bestselling author Sebastian Faulks discusses the background to his latest book Farewell to Eden, published this September, with historian Simon Heffer. It explores the disruptive power of war and the psychological trauma of postwar life. Philip, an emotionally scarred soldier returns to England after a peace-keeping mission in Palestine in the final days of the British Mandate. Some years later he meets Frances and hopes for more - but Philip is irrevocably changed by war, he carries the secrets and scars of everything he has lived through which threaten the promise of a better life. Faulks captures this embattled post-war Britain in a novel full of faith, suffering and humanity.
The global perfume market is one of the world’s most intriguing international businesses: valued at over £41 billion, products range from simple rosewater to rare iris-infused scents. In an exclusive preview, fragrance writer Alice du Parcq discusses her book The Philosophy of Perfume with Amanda Carr, founder of the Barnes Fragrance Fair. Published this October, the book reveals the mysterious world of perfume, from its historical use in ancient ceremonies and the great muses of perfume to the psychology of scent and the obsessive search for ever-rarer ingredients to create the perfect scent. Alice explores how perfume has evolved as a cultural touchpoint, a piece of art and design and a deep expression of individuality.
/ In conversation with
/ In conversation with
Simon Heffer is a writer and historian specialising in the social history of Britain. He sits in the House of Lords and is a patron of Barnes BookFest.
Amanda Carr is a journalist and trend forecaster. A specialist in the fragrance industry, she writes for WGSN on global trends and We Wear Perfume.
Farewell to Eden
The Philosophy of Perfume
Andrew Graham-Dixon Vermeer: A Life Lost and Found
Adam Hart with Jackson van Uden Operation Pimento
Sat, 26 Sept - 8pm St Mary’s Barnes
Sun, 27 Sept - 10am Barnes Green Centre
Girl with a Pearl Earring, A View of Delft and Woman Reading a Letter are world famous paintings but little is known about the enigmatic Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer who created them. He left fewer than forty paintings and died penniless. Acclaimed art historian, Andrew Graham-Dixon reveals new archival material to give a different understanding of this master painter. His research challenges ideas of the artist as an isolated genius and shows him as a man deeply embedded in the radical, intellectual and political life of his age. Vermeer’s friendships, his ties to a radical underground movement and the women who shaped his private life and career cast a new light on the artist, the man and his work.
Writer and journalist Adam Hart tells the story of a secret mission, a sole survivor and a great escape. It is an inspiring account of courage and risk. Adam talks with historian Jackson van Uden about retracing his great-grandfather’s journey through Nazi-occupied France in 1943. Squadron Leader Frank Griffiths was the only survivor of a mission to deliver supplies across enemy lines. His escape involved a perilous 1,400 mile journey across Europe, only possible because of the bravery of local people who risked their lives to help. Adam explains how he met the descendants of the people involved and discovered the significance of a Frenchwoman’s chimney, an attic over a brothel and a daunting trek over the Pyrenees.
This event is in memory of Edwin Mullins.
/ In conversation with Jackson van Uden is an historian and political commentator, specialising in power, tyranny and dictators in history and the modern world.
Alexander Ballinger with Rita Tushingham
Alex Edmans
Phyllis Dalton: A Career in Costume
The Madness of Markets - Why Smart Investors Make Crazy Decisions
Sun, 27 Sept - 10am Olympic Studios
Sun, 27 Sept – 12pm St Mary’s Barnes
Cinema and film expert Alexander Ballinger meets with actress Rita Tushingham to discuss the work of Phyllis Dalton, the brilliant awardwinning designer who created countless costumes for film and TV. Her work included legendary films such as Dr Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia, Henry V, The Princess Bride, Much Ado About Nothing and A Private Function. Born in Chiswick, West London, her success as a costume designer influenced Paris and London fashions. Alexander has spent years researching his book, drawing on exclusive interviews with Phyllis to give a fascinating insight into her designs: from Julie Christie’s sultry red satin gown in Dr Zhivago to Maggie Smith’s apron in A Private Function.
Professor Alex Edmans analyses the psychology of investing and how to protect yourself from costly investment mistakes. A leading economist, Alex discusses why global markets have been thrown into chaos, with crazy investments leading to wild booms and busts, economic inequality and political fallout. He uncovers the hidden forces that have driven global markets off course – from Reddit frenzies to CEO ego trips – and how hype cycles and social contagion can prompt even smart investors to make irrational decisions. An insight into how to capitalise when others misstep, Alex uses the latest research to explain the strategies that can help you to make astute decisions in a world that often thinks fast, loud and wrong.
/ In conversation with Rita Tushingham famously played the role of Tanya in Dr Zhivago and is also highly acclaimed for her work in British New Wave cinema.
Jamie LowtherPinkerton with Allan Mallinson
Beyond the Edge of Light Sun, 27 Sept - 12pm Barnes Green Centre Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton entwines the literary themes of love and war in his debut novel Beyond the Edge of Light, published earlier this year. Inspired by the story of his mother during the Second World War, the novel captures the harsh realities of living with war and traces what can happen when two people find themselves on opposing sides of brutal world events. In conversation with Allan Mallinson, he discusses the challenges of writing about war and researching the secret world of Bletchley Park. After serving with the British army for twenty years, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton was Principal Private Secretary to The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry from 2005-2014.
Antony Beevor with Frances Welch Rasputin
Sun, 27 Sept - 2pm St Mary’s Barnes Acclaimed historian Sir Antony Beevor presents a thought provoking analysis of how a semi-literate peasant from Siberia became one of the most enigmatic and influential figures in modern history. In conversation with Frances Welch, a leading specialist on the Russian Imperial family, Antony Beevor discusses the dark history surrounding Rasputin’s role in the end of the Russian Empire. Rasputin undoubtedly contributed to the collapse of the Romanov dynasty, bringing down royalty and government ministers alike. It is a haunting and familiar story of abuse, exploitation and manipulation. Antony Beevor is the award-winning writer of thirteen works of non-fiction, including the bestselling Stalingrad and Russia: Revolution and Civil War 1917 -1921.
/ In conversation with
/ In conversation with
Allan Mallinson is a former army officer and military specialist. He has published both fiction and non-fiction and writes on defence for The Times.
Frances Welch is the author of Rasputin: A Short Life and has written extensively on the history of the Romanov Imperial family.
Wendy Hitchmough with Thomas Kennedy
Vince Cable
Vanessa Bell - The Life & Art of a Bloomsbury Radical
Eclipsing the West – China, India and the forging of a new world
Sun, 27 Sept - 2pm Barnes Green Centre
Sun, 27 Sept - 4pm St Mary’s Barnes
Leading art historian Wendy Hitchmough discusses her biography of the pioneering artist Vanessa Bell and how she challenged the male dominated art world to became one of the most influential creative forces of the 20th century. In conversation with Thomas Kennedy, curator at Tate Britain, Wendy describes how this trailblazing artist rejected artistic and societal norms to forge new pathways in the field of British modernism. Vanessa Bell celebrates the artist’s radical approach to art and life, her rejection of conventions and the challenge she posed to the structure of society. New research and previously unpublished letters show how far Bell embraced the creative world with caustic wit and daring.
Sir Vince Cable, previously Secretary of State for Business and a former President of the Board of Trade, sees China and India as the rising Asian superstates - ready to fill the void as the Western dominated world declines. In Eclipsing the West, Vince Cable looks at these shifts in power and asks what it means for the future. China is already challenging the US as the world’s dominant global economy and India is likely to become the second biggest economic power by the middle of the century. Drawing on new research and a lifetime of political and economic experience, he analyses what might happen as China and India forge a new world and he considers the implications for trade, international law and the fight against climate change.
/ In conversation with Thomas Kennedy is a curator at Tate Britain, his exhibitions include: Vanessa Bell & Duncan Grant (2026) Edward Burra (2025) and Walter Sickert (2022).
Rukky Brume and Leodora Darlington with Meena Alexander
Robert Verkaik with Frank Gardner
New Voices Event
The Writer and The Traitor
Sun, 27 Sept - 4pm Barnes Green Centre
Sun, 27 Sept - 6pm St Mary’s Barnes
The New Voices event champions debut authors and rising literary talent. This year we welcome two powerful new writers of 2026 – Rukky Brume and Leodora Darlington. Chaired by the award-winning journalist and editor Meena Alexander, Rukky and Leodora discuss their books, the inspiration for their novels, the power of female protagonists and writing for the next generation. Longlisted for the Women’s Prize Trust Discoveries award, Rukky Brume’s It Comes in Waves explores grief and uncomfortable truths that emerge after a family death. In The Exes, Leodora Darlington crafts a complex tale of guilt, trauma and paranoia in a blistering psychological thriller. Critically acclaimed, both novels are captivating and cleverly overturn reader expectations.
Robert Verkaik discusses his latest book The Writer and The Traitor with BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner. He explores the enigmatic friendship between the celebrated novelist Graham Greene, and the intelligence-officer-turned-traitor Kim Philby. Both men worked together at MI6 preparing for the D-Day landings and misdirecting German intelligence. Greene’s time at MI6 and Philby have long been seen as inspiration for some of his greatest novels but did he suspect Philby of treason? A specialist in espionage and military history, Robert Verkaik points to Greene’s dramatic resignation from MI6 just days before D-Day and asks the deeper question of why would one of Britain’s most famous authors remain loyal to Britain’s most hated traitor.
/ In conversation with
/ In conversation with
Meena Alexander is an award-winning journalist and magazine editor. She is the author of How To Be Curious: Ideas To Make You Think Differently.
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner is the bestselling author of the Luke Carlton thriller series. As a journalist he reports on events in some of world’s most dangerous areas.
Emily Howes with Anne Mullins
Tim Rice with Eleanor Oldroyd
Mrs Dickens
Music and Lyrics
Sun, 27 Sept - 6pm Barnes Green Centre
Sun, 27 Sept - 8pm St Mary Barnes
Novelist Emily Howes deftly unravels the complicated marriage between Kate Hogarth and Charles Dickens as it is bedevilled by fame, expectation and money worries. In the early days together, there is love and a happy family life but as their relationship changes Kate finds Charles can be both cruel and distant. The story is told from the perspectives of the maligned wife and the family’s maid, Anne Brown. Anne herself is bitterly caught between the affection she feels for her mistress and the duty she owes her master. In conversation with Dr Anne Mullins, Emily discusses the silenced narratives of both women and gives a new understanding of the often forgotten Mrs Charles Dickens.
Sir Tim Rice talks with Eleanor Oldroyd about the path that took him from being a cricket and comicobsessed schoolboy to becoming one of the best-known lyricists of our times. An introduction to Andrew Lloyd Webber led to the iconic Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita. During his long career he went on to work with everyone from Elton John and Alan Menken to ABBA’s Bjorn and Benny for The Lion King, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast and Chess. Today he is a musical legend but success was not instant. Joseph famously started as a twenty-minute show written for St Paul’s School for Boys. Tim reflects on music and lyrics and how his love of rock and pop and his passion for cricket have all endured.
This event is in memory of Judy Elliott. / In conversation with Anne Mullins is a philosopher and broadcaster. She is a co-founder of Barnes BookFest and launched the Bloody Barnes crime writing festival in 2026.
/ In conversation with BBC broadcaster Eleanor Oldroyd is well known for her excellent coverage of all sporting events, particularly Test match cricket.
Barnes BookFest 2026 presents...
Two astonishing debut authors discuss their first novels with award-winning journalist Meena Alexander
An ‘unforgettable’
debut from Rukky Brume
The ‘irresistable voice’ of Leodora Darlington
27 September, 4pm
Barnes Green Centre Book tickets NOW at the Barnes Bookshop
or barnesbookfest.org
@barnesbookfest All photography credits are acknowledged on our website barnesbookfest.org