Meet The Author : Juliet Barker
February 12th, 2010
Juliet Barker will be talking about her new book
‘ Conquest’
on Saturday 20th March at 7pm at Kenilworth Library
Kenilworth Books is delighted that Juliet Barker has agreed to talk about her latest book as part of our ‘Meet The Author’ series.
In her best-selling ‘Agincourt’, Juliet Barker gave us the definitive narrative of Henry V’s extraordinary victory over the French. Now, in ‘Conquest’, she tells the equally remarkable, but largely forgotten, story of the dramatic years when England ruled France at the point of a sword.
Henry V’s second invasion of France in 1417 launched a campaign that would put the crown of France on an English head. Buoyed by victory, his conquest looked unstoppable. By the time of his premature death in 1422, almost all of northern France was in his hands. The Valois heir to the throne had been disinherited and it was Henry’s infant son who became the first English king of France.
Only the miraculous appearance of a visionary peasant girl – Joan of Arc – would halt the English advance. Yet despite her victories, her influence was short-lived: Henry VI had his coronation in Paris six months after her death and his kingdom endured for another twenty years. When he came of age he was not the leader his father had been. It was the dauphin, whom Joan had crowned Charles VII, who would finally drive the English out of France.
Conquest brings to life these stirring times – the epic battles and sieges, plots and betrayals – through a kaleidoscope of characters from John Talbot, the ‘English Achilles’, and John, duke of Bedford, regent of France, to brutal mercenaries, opportunistic freebooters, resourceful spies and tragic lovers torn apart by the conflict.
Tickets priced £4 will be available from Kenilworth Library, Kenilworth Books and Warwick Books.
Meet The Author : Chris Skidmore
February 11th, 2010
Chris Skidmore will be talking about his new book
‘ Death and the Virgin: Elizabeth, Dudley and the Mysterious Fate of Amy Robsart‘
on Sunday 21st March at 7pm at The Stables Kenilworth Castle
Kenilworth Books is delighted that Chris, author and lecturer in History, has agreed to talk about his latest book as part of our ‘Meet The Author’ series.
Christopher Skidmore takes a fresh look at the familiar story of a queen who never married, and reveals a very different picture: of a vulnerable young woman, in love with her suitor, Robert Dudley. Had it not been for the mysterious and untimely death of his wife, Amy Robsart, Elizabeth might have one day been able to marry Dudley, since Amy was believed to be dying of breast cancer. Instead, the suspicious circumstances surrounding Amy Robsart’s death would cast a long shadow over Elizabeth’s life, preventing any hope of a union with Dudley and ultimately shaping the course of Tudor history. Using newly discovered evidence from the archives, to be precise the coroner’s report into Amy’s death which has never been seen before, Christopher Skidmore is able to put an end to centuries of speculation as to the true causes of her death. This is the story of a remarkable and frenetic period in Elizabeth’s life: a tale of love, death and tragedy, exploring the dramatic early life of England’s Virgin Queen. And what better place for Christopher to tell this story than the magnificent surroundings of the Tudor barn at Kenilworth Castle which, as stables, would have been very familiar to both Elizabeth and Dudley.
Christopher’s exciting find and the story resulting from it has been nationally publicised in newspapers and on the Today programme on Radio 4…..do have a look at http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article7034946.ece
Tickets priced £7.50 (£5 concessions) will be available from Kenilworth Library, Kenilworth Books and Warwick Books.
Meet Gervase Phinn – a Kenilworth Books taster for Kenilworth Festival
February 9th, 2010
Gervase Phinn will be talking about his new biography
‘Road To The Dales : The Story of A Yorkshire Lad’
at The Woodside Hotel Kenilworth on Tuesday 30th March at 7pm.
This event is part of Kenilworth Books’ ‘Meet The Author’ series, and is a ‘taster’ for Kenilworth Festival. As seating is limited it is sure to be a sell-out. Do buy your tickets early! We supported Gervase at Warwick recently where he spoke to an audience of over 300. The evening was an absolute knockout, hilariously funny, and we look forward to seeing him again.
Gervase Phinn is probably best known for his autobiographical novels set in the Yorkshire Dales, which are about his time there as a school inspector. Starting with ‘The Other Side of the Dale’ they are an hilarious account of the larger than life characters he encounters, from farmers and lords of the manor, to teaching nuns and eccentric caretakers – but best of all the Dales children. Since then he has also published collections of his own writings and stories for children as well as anthologies of children’s sayings.
Well-known both as a story-teller and extremely funny raconteur, Kenilworth Books are very lucky to be able to welcome him to Kenilworth to talk about his brand new autobiography, “Road to the Dales: The Story of a Yorkshire Lad” which will be published on March 25th. Copies of the books and a selection of other titles will be for sale at the event and Gervase will be available to sign copies after the talk.
Tickets priced £7.50 each will be strictly limited, so early booking is advised. Tickets are available via the Kenilworth Festival website, by ringing Oxboffice on 0845 680 1926 or from Kenilworth Books. NOW SOLD OUT….. SORRY!!
“Gervase Phinn is one of the most accomplished public speakers of any kind. A natural storyteller, he combines the timing of the professional comedian with palpable warmth and the ability to deliver a message that is just more than a series of jokes.” The Times
“Funny, touching and entertaining.” The Daily Express
Martin Bell
February 8th, 2010
A VERY BRITISH REVOLUTION
The Expenses Scandal and How to Save Our Democracy
MARTIN BELL
will be speaking about his book at a special event organised by
WARWICK BOOKS
on Friday 30th April 7pm at Lord Leycester’s Hospital, Warwick
The essential read on 2009’s scandal and the forthcoming general election is now fully updated and due for publication in paperback in April with a brand new section on events since last year. We are very lucky that Martin has agreed to come to Warwick as part of our ‘Meet The Author’ programme. Tickets are limited, so do reserve yours quickly!
“Enormously worth reading.” Tam Dalyell MP
The revelations over MPs’ expenses that began in May 2009 ranged from petty thieving to outright fraud and sparked a crisis in confidence unprecedented in modern times. This was a 21st-century Peasants’ Revolt – an uprising of the people against the political class.
Ordinary men and women with political views across the spectrum were in turns amused, incredulous, shocked and then bitterly angry as the disclosures on MPs’ expenses flooded out. From Home Secretary Jacqui Smith’s bath plug to Conservative Sir John Butterfill’s ‘flipping’ of his constituency home – a now-notorious scam that required him to refund £60,000 to the taxpayer – the exposure of MPs’ expenses revealed Westminster’s culture of quiet corruption like never before.
Drawing on his experience as an MP and as a member of the Committee on Standards and Privileges, Martin Bell explains how the expenses crisis arose and, most compellingly, lays out his prescription for healing the deep wounds inflicted by the scandal.
As Martin says: ‘The revolution will not be complete until all the rogues in the House are gone and public confidence in the MPs remaining is restored.’ This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to revive British politics, and the rebuilding starts here.
Martin Bell OBE, as a former BBC war reporter is one of the best-known and most highly regarded names in British television journalism and in 1997 became the first independent MP to be elected to Parliament since 1950. He has since campaigned tirelessly for trust and transparency in British Politics.
Tickets are available from Warwick Books and Kenilworth Books price £7.50 (£6 concessions). Thanks are due to Icon Books for supporting the event and to The Master of Lord Leycester’s Hospital for allowing us to use the splendid venue of the medieval hall.
