Wantage Literary Festival features former cabinet minister and TV historian

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 2 Nov, 21:08 · Archive

The Wantage Literary Festival in Oxfordshire is running until 7 November with speakers including former Home Secretary Alan Johnson and television historian Janina Ramirez.

The Wantage Literary Festival opened on 26 October with over 100 people attending a discussion about the poetry of Seamus Heaney. The event runs until 7 November and features a range of speakers and events.

Highlights so far have included football writer Jonathan Wilson discussing the history of the World Cup and criminologist Professor David Wilson discussing his book 'A history of Modern Britain in 20 murders'. Other speakers include novelist Victoria Hislop, broadcaster Stephen Sackur, television historian Janina Ramirez and former Home Secretary Alan Johnson.

Before the final day on 7 November, there is a free self-publishing event on 4 November and a talk to over 500 local school pupils by children's novelist Isaac Hamilton-McKenzie. Andrew Lownie, author of the bestselling biography 'Entitled: The Fall of the House of York', will speak on the final day. The final days of the festival will also feature talks about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and climate change.

Festival director Berne Ferry said the event 'continues to bring distinguished guests to Wantage, attract enthusiastic audiences and enrich the town's cultural life'. The festival has also promoted public reading through 'The Big Town Read', a community-wide initiative to bring residents together through reading a common book.

How it is being reported

• Former UK politician and TV historian at major Oxfordshire literary festivalThe major Oxfordshire literary festival has featured a number of major names including a former cabinet minister and a TV historian.Oxford Mail · 2 Nov, 20:00
• Former UK politician and TV historian at major Oxfordshire literary festivalThe major Oxfordshire literary festival has featured a number of major names including a former cabinet minister and a TV historian.Oxfordshire Guardian · 2 Nov, 20:00

In this story: Wantage · Alan Johnson · Janina Ramirez · Victoria Hislop · Andrew Lownie · Seamus Heaney · Jonathan Wilson · David Wilson

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