- 28 May -28 June 2026
- Historical Fiction
- ONLY A FEW TICKETS LEFT!
The Bride Stone
In partnership with Federation of Essex Women’s Institutes. The Bride Stone is a spell-binding new historical novel from multi-award-winning author Sally Gardner that opens with a ‘wife sale’ in Thetford and ends with a delicious twist. Read more
- For Writers
- ONLY A FEW TICKETS LEFT!
- Workshop
Grief Writing Workshop
Drawing on his new collection, Father Myself, James McDermott will lead a special writing workshop to help you to re-see bereavement, grief and emotional loss. This inclusive and interactive workshop is designed for writers of all abilities – all welcome. Read more
- FREE
- Memoir
- ONLY A FEW TICKETS LEFT!
A Celebration of Dave Monk
Join us as we celebrate the Essex life of ‘BBC legend’ and festival patron, Dave Monk, who sadly died last year. We will be sharing fond and funny memories, talking about his memoir, Whatever Happened to Dave Monk? and the contribution he made to Essex. Read more
- Discussion
- Non-fiction
- ONLY A FEW TICKETS LEFT!
Common Treasures: Ambitious Thinking About the Future of Rural Communities
Common Treasures emerged from ongoing conversations between members of the architecture collective Assemble and the arts organisation Common Ground, seeking fresh, connected approaches to rural housing, land and livelihoods. Giles Smith, founding partner of Assemble, and Winner of the 2015 Turner Prize, will be discussing the Common Treasures project and accompanying books with writer, designer, and Essex-based planner Hana Loftus. Read more
- Historical Fiction
- ONLY A FEW TICKETS LEFT!
The Boleyn Secret
Sunday Times best-selling historical novelist Alison Weir gives a talk about her spellbinding new novel, The Boleyn Secret. At twelve years old, Kate Carey attends her aunt, Queen Anne Boleyn, to the scaffold. Weir explores in fiction the lasting impact of this event as well as the likelihood that Katherine Carey was Henry VIII’s child. Read more