Clapham’s distinctive Book Festival is back with a Programme of varied events on 16th October, 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.

This year the Festival is also partnering with Time and Leisure Magazine to present a series of online events in the period leading up to and after the Festival Day. High quality live discussion and debate about books, authors and all things literary, often with a Clapham connection. The first of these is on 28th July, at 7 pm. when Elizabeth Buchan, long time resident of Clapham and best selling author will be talking about her work, the settings for her books and why the past is so important in her writing.