Clapham’s distinctive Book Festival is back with a Programme of varied events, some of them on Clapham Common.

2.00 – 3.30pm       Clapham Literary Trail I

Clapham crime fiction writer and Trustee of the Festival, Julie Anderson, leads a walk around Clapham Common, taking in the illustrious and varied literary history of Clapham ( including literary sleuths and supervillains ).  Starts and finishes at Omnibus Theatre.

3.30 – 5.00pm     Clapham Literary Trail II

Long time Clapham resident and award-winning author Annemarie Neary leads the second of the day’s walks around Clapham Common and environs, talking Prize-winners, distinguished visitors and some very famous books ( including her own, The Orphans, which is set on the Common ). Starts and finishes at Omnibus Theatre.

5.30 – 6.30pm    Sir Michael Morpurgo CBE 

Former Children’s Laureate and winner of multiple awards, Sir Michael discusses his latest work When Fishes Flew, what it’s like to see the play based on his novel War Horse reach a theatre audience of over ten million people and his work creating the charity Farms for City Children, with local best-selling author, Elizabeth Buchan.

7.30 – 8.30pm    Ben Macintyre 

Historian, biographer and Sunday Times bestseller Ben Macintyre talks about his latest book, Agent Sonya and his fascination with female spy extraordinaire, Ursula Kuczynski – codename Sonya – probably the greatest female spy of the 20th century, with local author and broadcaster Simon Berthon.