Henley Literary Festival is back for 2021 with a combination of in person and live-streamed events running from 2nd to 10th October. Tickets went on sale to the public on Monday 19th July, following a priority booking period for Friends of the Festival.
This year’s venues include Henley Town Hall, Christ Church, the River and Rowing Museum and, new for 2021, the Baillie Gifford Marquee in the grounds of Phyllis Court. Unfortunately there are no events aboard one of Hobbs of Henley’s river cruisers this year – always a favourite of mine in previous years – but fingers crossed for next year.
Here are a few events from this year’s programme that caught my eye, some of which I’ve already secured my tickets for. Links will take you to the event information on the Henley Literary Festival website. In many cases, there is an option to purchase a ticket to access a live-stream of the event.
Saturday 2nd October
Dr Lucy Pollock and Rachel Clarke talking about their books, The Book About Getting Older and Breathtaking: Inside the NHS in a Time of Pandemic
Sebastian Faulks talking about his new novel, Snow Country
Candice Brathwaite and Nikesh Shukla talking about their latest books, Sista Sister and Brown Baby: A Memoir of Race, Family and Home
Sunday 3rd October
Kate Mosse talking about her new historical novel, The City of Tears
Ruby Wax talking about her book, A Mindfulness Guide for Survival
Monday 4th October
Tom Allen talking about his memoir, No Shame
Forensic scientist Professor Angela Gallop talking about her book How To Solve A Crime
Tuesday 5th October
Ed Balls talking about his book, Appetite, billed as ‘part autobiography, part cookbook’
The very popular ‘Crime and Wine‘ event, this year featuring Imran Mahmood, and husband-and-wife team Nikki French, talking about their books, I Know What I Saw and The Unheard. One of the Festival sponsors, Laithwaites, provide the wine.
Wednesday 6th October
Former politician Alan Johnson discussing his first foray into fiction, The Late Train to Gipsy Hill
Robert Webb talking about his debut novel, Come Again
Thursday 7th October
Comedian Jack Dee talking about his book What Is Your Problem?
Friday 8th October
Carol Kirkwood and Jill Mansell talking about their recent books, Under A Greek Moon, and And Now You’re Back
Alexander McCall Smith discussing the return of Mma Ramotswe in The Joy and Light Bus Company
Saturday 9th October
Grace Dent talking about her memoir, Hungry
Talking of being hungry, I hope that taster has given you an appetite for taking a longer look at the Henley Literary Festival website to see the full programme of events. There is also a series of pop-up events – both before and after the Festival – plus a full programme of events for children. And anytime you’re in Henley, pay a visit to The Bell Bookshop, the Festival’s partner bookseller.
Are you hoping to attend a literary festival this year?
What Cathy Read Next... 
Looks like a fab line-up Cathy. Are you going?
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I’ve a ticket for one event – Sebastian Faulks – and livestream tickets for a few others. It will be nice to be back in Henley which isn’t far from where I live, especially as there are a few bookshops – new and second-hand – to browse in. And of course the River Thames to stroll beside, weather permitting.
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