Chiddingstone Castle's Literary Festival Fringe

Summer 2021

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Join us in the Castle gardens for our small but spectacular line up at this summer’s Literary Festival Fringe. Chiddingstone Castle is thrilled to bring you a series of live, in-person events taking place on 8th July, 22nd July, 19th August and 2nd September.

We are holding a number of author talks during the afternoon and early evening in Chiddingstone Castle’s grounds, in line with the current COVID guidelines. These will take place in the large marquee set amidst sprawling lawns, pretty gardens and woodland. Tickets are limited to meet social distancing requirements.

Refreshments will be available to purchase - multi-award-winning wines from Yotes Court and Castle canapés.

Visit our pop up Sevenoaks Bookshop and get a chance to meet the authors during the book signings.

Thursday 8 July

5 - 6pm  Anne Sebba - Ethel Rosenberg; A Cold War Tragedy 

On 19th June 1953, Ethel Rosenberg became the first woman in the US to be executed for a crime other than murder. In an illustrated talk, Anne Sebba lays bare the catastrophic failure of humanity and justice which resulted in the ‘trial of the century’.

7 - 8pm  Hugo Vickers and Simon Heffer - Henry ‘Chips’ Channon and Cecil Beaton

Hugo Vickers’ new book Malice in Wonderland reveals how he entered society photographer Cecil Beaton’s world of royalty, aristocrats and film stars, whilst Simon Heffer exposes a host of society icons under the gaze of Henry ‘Chips’ Channon in the 1920s and 30s, chaired by James Lee, with readings by actor Geoffrey Streatfeild.

Thursday 22 July

5 - 6pm  Amanda Owen, the Yorkshire Shepherdess with Fidelity Weston - Tales from the Farm

Amanda Owen rose to fame in Channel 5’s Our Yorkshire Farm, but her roots were in urban Huddersfield. Discover what lured her into living the country life in Swaledale and hear how she combines life on the farm with raising nine children, filming and writing.

7 - 8pm  Ben MacIntyre - Agent Sonya; Lover, Mother, Soldier, Spy

Hear bestselling author Ben MacIntyre on the remarkable true story of WW2’s most extraordinary spy; how Ursula Kuczynski Burton combined rural motherhood with being a spymaster, saboteur, bomb-maker and secret agent.

Thursday 19 August

5 - 6pm  Natalie Haynes - Pandora’s Jar; Women in the Greek Myths

A brilliant classicist as well as a stand-up comedian, Natalie Haynes takes the women of Greek myths - who are sidelined, vilified, misunderstood or ignored - and puts them centre stage, in a witty and entertaining talk.

7 - 8pm  Martin Gayford - Spring Cannot be Cancelled; David Hockney in Normandy

Art critic Martin Gayford presents an illustrated talk based on Hockney’s latest paintings (currently exhibiting at the Royal Academy) and a wealth of new conversations and correspondence with Hockney, his long-time friend and collaborator.

Thursday 2 September

2 - 3pm  Sebastian Faulks with Cathy Rentzenbrink - Snow Country

Sebastian Faulks joins us on the very day his new novel is published. Sweeping across Europe as it recovers from one war and hides its face from the next, Snow Country is a landmark novel of exquisite yearnings, dreams of youth and the sanctity of hope.

4 - 5pm  Deborah Moggach with Rowan Pelling - The Black Dress

Bestselling author of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Deborah Moggach unveils her new, beautifully observed, darkly funny, tender and surprising novel. The Black Dress is about life changes and the unexpected twists and pleasures of being alone.

Discounts on our speakers’ books will only apply with ‘Ticket and Book’ options. Copies of the authors’ books will be available to buy on the day at the recommended retail price, from our festival booksellers, Sevenoaks Bookshop.