Barnes BookFest 2024

2024 Festival Event

Robert Harris
photo by Nick Gregan

Robert Harris – ‘Precipice’

Bestselling author Robert Harris is known for his skill in weaving fact and fiction together to create a fresh perspective on historical events. In conversation with historian Simon Heffer, Robert talks about his latest novel Precipice. It focuses on the known love affair between the aristocratic socialite Venetia Stanley and the Prime Minister H.H. Asquith just before WWI. The affair puts Britain’s security at serious risk, potentially changing the course of political history. Robert and Simon discuss the events underlying the novel and the dangers of the Stanley-Asquith letters.

robert Harris - Precipice

Simon Heffer is a highly regarded historian who has written extensively on the social history of Britain. Simon is a Patron of Barnes BookFest.

Simon Heffer
Tickets cost £18 or £12. There is a 25% saving on all festival books pre-ordered with event tickets.

Other events on the same day

BBC London weather forecaster Elizabeth Rizzini joins pupils from local schools to talk about … the weather.
Author and BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner talks about 'Invasion', his fourth book featuring SIS operative Luke Carlton in a story of dark espionage and geopolitical tension.
'One of the top guitarists of all time' (Rolling Stone), Thurston Moore discusses post-punk bohemia and life as the frontman of Sonic Youth – which defined alt rock in the 1980s/1990s.

2024 Festival Schedule

4pm

4.30pm

6pm

8pm

12n

2pm

4pm

6pm

8pm

10am

12n

2pm

4pm

6pm

8pm

A printed version of this schedule can be found on the back of the programme booklet available at the Barnes Bookshop, 98 Church Road.