What’s on

This year’s book festival sought to dissect the international and to travel the world across history, conflict, art, diplomacy, international law and much more.

Four books this year touched on the West’s relationship with Russia. Anna Reid, Giles Milton and Jonathan Dimbleby cover the West’s intervention into the outcome of the Russian Revolution, the allies’ secret post-war mission to court Stalin, and the importance of the Soviet army to the endgame of the Second World War respectively. Geoffrey Robertson KC looked at the difficulties of bringing Putin to trial for his illegal invasion of Ukraine. The heroism, tenacity and contribution of foreign correspondents were celebrated with Martin Sixsmith’s heartbreaking story of resistance and collaboration in wartime Holland, while Frank Gardner discussed his dual career as both BBC Security Correspondent and bestselling thriller writer.

Former and current BBC employees were well-represented. Clive Myrie is a chief news correspondent with a bestselling memoir. Rory Cellan- Jones narrated an astonishing family story of secrets and lies within the same organisation. Further frequent media voices included Xinran, once Chinese radio personality now bestselling author; Lord McDonald, former Head of the Diplomatic Service; and Caroline Lucas, the former Green MP for Brighton Pavilion.

Donna Leon is one of The Times’ 50 Greatest Crime Writers. Donna’s Commissario Brunetti crime novels are set in Venice and have been translated into many languages. Donna’s memoir Wandering Through Life considered nearly nine decades of travel, opera and eating.

Sophie Grigson is a much-loved cookery writer who now counts Puglia as home. Italy was a slightly unintended but serendipitous theme this year. Dame Jane Glover’s Mozart in Italy is written with a profound understanding of both Italian music and country. Sir Antonio Pappano is an English-Italian conductor and pianist. His new memoir, My Life in Music, proclaims the restorative properties of classical music.

Art and poetry were represented by celebrated ceramicist Florian Gadsby, landscape is discussed by acclaimed cultural historian Alexandra Harris and the Poetry Pharmacist himself, William Sieghart, was here to prescribe an aid to broken hearts and other life challenges.

This year, Buxton felt as watery as Venice but with a few (Tuscan) blue skies!  Regardless of the weather,  what I guarantee we can deliver is storytelling – mostly true, occasionally imagined, always opinion-forming and also the warmth of our special BIF welcome.