FRI 12 OCT
Afternoon HISTORY
2-4pm
ART & ARCHITECTURE
BLETCHLEY PARK: THE TRUTH BEHIND THE MYTH
THE LAURIE LEE LECTURE
GAVIN STAMP
Sinclair McKay & Michael Smith Bletchley Park was a key player in the allied victory in World War Two and its work has at last been justly celebrated on stage and screen. Join Bletchley expert Michael Smith and historian Sinclair McKay, author of the bestselling The Secret Life of Bletchley Park and The Secret Listeners as they reveal some of the extraordinary stories and debunk some of the popular myths that have grown up around Bletchley Park. Join them after the event to see a real example of the legendary Enigma machine.
ROBERT MACFARLANE The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot In this enthralling illustrated talk about his latest series of journeys, the widelyadmired nature writer Robert Macfarlane sets off from his Cambridge home to walk the ancient tracks, drove roads, holloways and sea paths that form part of a vast network of routes criss-crossing the British landscape. In this event based on his book, The Old Ways, he recounts some of the stories which emerged from his travels.
> L232 > THE FORUM – MONTPELLIER GARDENS > 2-3PM > £7 RES
> L229 > THE FORUM – MONTPELLIER GARDENS > 12-1PM > £7 RES
THE POWER OF IDEAS Julian Baggini, Joan Bakewell Bronwen Maddox & Susan Mendus In the stories we tell of major political change, the main protagonists are often ideas. The Enlightenment, Communism, Fascism, Islamism: all these have been thought to be driving historical movements. But do ideas really have this power or are social and economic forces, or even strong individuals, much more important? Should we be looking for ideas to really change the world? Programmed by Julian Baggini
> L231 > THE SALON – MONTPELLIER GARDENS > 12-1PM > £7 RES
Events with Character: Enjoy a delicious sample of Taylors of Harrogate coffee after the event
LOCALLY SOURCED
YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST... Following its very successful debut last year, our open-mic session for new writing returns to the Spiegeltent in 2012. From poetry to prose, fiction and beyond, bring along a five-minute excerpt of your work to perform on stage at the Festival this October.
> LT15 > SPIEGELTENT – MONTPELLIER GARDENS > 12.30-2PM > SUBMISSIONS FROM 12PM WITH READINGS FROM 12.30-2PM > FREE
> L235 > IMPERIAL SQUARE > 2-3PM > £7
FESTIVAL FOCUS HOME
PHILOSOPHY
Edwin Lutyens: Country Houses Edwin Lutyens was one of Britain’s greatest architects, known for the imaginative adaptations of traditional design in his numerous country houses. In this beautifully illustrated talk, Gavin Stamp, architectural historian, and the author of Edwin Lutyens: Country Houses is our guide to some of his most celebrated architectural designs, spanning the many phases of his acclaimed career.
JANCIS ROBINSON Wine Grapes Editor of the Oxford Companion to Wine and adviser to the Queen on her cellar, Jancis Robinson is one of the world’s most renowned wine experts. In this enticing illustrated talk, she provides a flavour of some of the 1,375 vine varieties she describes in her authoritative new book, Wine Grapes.
> L234 > IMPERIAL SQUARE > 2-3PM > £8
HELEN DUNMORE & ANDREA GILLIES Turning Up the Tension What is the secret of writing a truly chilling and suspenseful story? Helen Dunmore’s critically-acclaimed and spine-tingling ghost story The Greatcoat tells the tale of a passion across time, whilst Andrea Gilles’ stunning debut novel The White Lie explores how a single white lie can resonate down the years. Join them to find out how they create realistic characters whilst turning the screw to keep the reader transfixed until the final denouement.
> L257 > IMPERIAL SQUARE > 2-3PM > FREE – ADVANCED BOOKING REQUIRED
PHILOSOPHY
THE BIG READ
POWER TO THE PEOPLE
JAMES BOND – DR NO
Julian Baggini, Jesse Norman Onora O’Neill & Jonathan Wolff From Occupy to the Arab Spring, the Big Society and the legitimacy of the European Union, citizens are demanding that they have more of a say in the running of their countries and institutions. But what is the difference between people power and mob rule, and when does democracy become the tyranny of the majority? Philosophers involved in public policy from academia, the Lords and the Commons discuss how much and what kind of power to give the people. Programmed by Julian Baggini
Big Read Book Group Suave, seductive, sophisticated, has a licence to kill and likes his drinks shaken, not stirred - it can only be Bond, James Bond. Join us as we venture in the world of the MI6 agent, following him to Jamaica in this Festival Book Group with local author Jane Bailey discussing this year’s Big Read, Ian Fleming’s Dr No.
> L237 > THE LITERARY LOUNGE – MONTPELLIER GARDENS > 2-3PM > £3
> L236 > THE SALON – MONTPELLIER GARDENS > 2-3PM > £7 RES
Box Office 0844 880 8094 cheltenhamfestivals.com/tickets
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