2023 marks the third year of the Barnes BookFest. It brings writers of all genres to South West London for a lively literary programme of talks and discussion, where authors are invited to reflect on their writing and share insights into their research and specialist subjects. Launched in September 2021, the first two festivals in 2021 and 2022 were a great success with many sell-out events.
Previous speakers include best-selling authors Robert Harris, Anthony Horowitz, Sebastian Faulks and Bonnie Garmus; award-winning debut writers Natasha Brown and Yara Rodrigues Fowler; specialist writers Tim Marshall, Andrew Graham Dixon and Simon Heffer; plus, biographers and memoirists, from Gyles Brandreth, Hadley Freeman and Leslie Thomas KC to Dame Eileen Atkins, Theo Fennell and Richard E. Grant.
Barnes BookFest was initiated by Magic Productions, The Friends of St Mary’s Barnes and The Barnes Bookshop. In 2023 Simon Heffer agreed to become the festival’s first patron.
We are very grateful to work with Laurent Residential, the leading independent property company in Barnes. Laurent Residential was the festival’s founding sponsor and has provided on-going support and sponsorship each year.
Barnes BookFest 2023 is also generously sponsored by International Literary Properties (ILP), a global company that invests in the intellectual property rights to books, plays and other literary works. ILP works closely with authors, families, agents, publishers and producers to secure, protect and grow their literary legacies for future generations.
