These are troubling times and that is reflected in the line-up for this year’s Hexham Book Festival which starts at the end of next month.
Some of the big issues of the day are likely to come up as some heavyweight authors – several of them also familiar faces on TV – take the platform.
Philosopher AC Grayling will be at the Queen’s Hall to talk about his latest book, Democracy and its Crisis, in which he asks if democracy is threatened by authoritarian world leaders and the rise of populism.
Hexham-bound broadcasters include Newsnight presenter Evan Davis asking if lying is the “new truth” (in an event that’s already sold out) and Jeremy Vine who will talk about his memoir, reflecting on the things he gets told by listerners to his BBC Radio 2 show.
John Crace, The Guardian’s political sketch writer who coined the term ‘Maybot’ to describe Theresa May, will discuss his collection of essays, published as I, Maybot: The Rise and Fall.
Another journalist, Angus Roxburgh, an expert on Russia and author of a book about Vladimir Putin, will be in town to talk about Moscow calling: Memoirs of a Foreign Correspondent.
But it’s not all blokes.
Long-serving Labour politician Harriet Harman, author of A Woman’s Work, will argue that just because women have come a long way, they don’t have to accept the way things are.
In this year when we are remembering women’s struggle to get the vote, Dr Helen Pankhurst, great granddaughter of suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst, will share a platform with fellow author Caitlin Davies (daughter of Hunter Davies and Margaret Forster).
Dr Pankhurst has a new book out about women’s rights while Caitlin Davis has written Bad Girls, a history of Holloway Prison.
Two strong women called Murray will be at the festival to share some insights into their respective worlds.
Jenni Murray, synonymous with BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, is the author of a book called A History of Britain in 21 Women.
Judy Murray, sporting mum of two famous competitors, Andy and Jamie, will talk about her book Knowing the Score: My Family and our Tennis Story.
Two festival contributors will be encouraging their audience to look at the bigger picture.
Broadcaster and social commentator June Sarpong will talk about diversity and impact that fractured communities can have on society as a whole.
Historian David Starkey will explain, no doubt in his inimitable style, how the only way to make sense of our divided relationship with Europe is to study European history and understand that the seeds were sown a long time ago.
If much of this sounds rather worldly – heavyweight, even – then there is still a place for fiction and the world of the imagination.
Novelists Kate Mosse, Elizabeth Day, Rachel Joyce and Sarah Winman will all be Hexham-bound to discuss their latest creations.
Meanwhile foodies will be catered for with sessions by Danish chef Trine Hahnemann and Mary Contini, Italian cooking expert and director of Valvona and Crolla, an Edinburgh deli, restaurant and cookery school.
Festival director Susie Troup says: “Hexham Book Festival is different every year, and each year we try to cater for diverse interests and literary genres.”
This year’s festival, she adds, is bigger than ever, with more events and speakers. “I’m expecting a very busy 10 days.”
The festival runs from April 26 to May 6. For details and to book tickets, visit www.hexhambookfestival.co.uk or tel. 01434 652477.
