The festival, first held last year, is back with more events and a children’s books festival running alongside it.
There will be workshops, talks, and panels, held from April 19-21.
Sophie Liardet, festival co-founder, said: “The Winchester Books Festival 2024 will have the same eclectic range of books and authors as last year – hopefully there will be something to everyone to enjoy.
“This year we are also launching the Children’s Books Festival with some wonderful children’s authors, We Write which is a series of panels with book publishing industry experts to offer help and support for emerging writers, and a Big Book Club event with Claire Fuller. As well as well known authors such as Frank Gardner, James Holland and Daisy Goodwin, wonderful local authors such as eminent architect Hugh Petter, Sarah Freethy and Dr Brian Klaas will be speaking about their new books.”
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Frank Gardner will be at New Hall, Winchester Collage, on Friday, April 19. He will be talking about his Sunday Times bestseller Outbreak as well as his broadcasting career and his insights into current world affairs drawing on his years of reporting.
James Holland’s talk will be at the Theatre Royal on Saturday, April 20, when the historian will discuss his book The Savage Storm: The Brutal Battle for Italy 1943. He will talk about the brutality of the campaign, and the immense scale of destruction and trauma for all those involved.
On Sunday, April 21, a trio of panels will be held at The Arc, in Jewry Street, to help emerging writers. After that will be the book club event with Alice Peterson talking about her book The Saturday Place with Winchester author Claire Fuller.
The highlight of the children’s festival is former children’s laureate Lauren Child, who will be talking about her new Clarice Bean book at the Theatre Royal on Saturday, April 20.
Before the festival, Alice Winn, winning author of Waterstone’s 2023 Novel of The Year – In Memoriam, is coming to speak on March 21 at The Arc. She will be in conversation with Claire Fuller.
For the full list of events and more information, visit winchesterbooksfestival.com.
