Authors & Books
Our authors and events cover all genres. This year’s festival included topics ranging from the Middle East to etiquette, sports to the power of words. Real and fictional stories are told by the best authors from around the globe in the heart of Jane Austen’s city. Come and join us.
2025 Festival Authors
Tracy Chevalier
Jeremy Bowen
Susie Dent
Ben Pentreath
Patrick Grant
Tom Holland
Maz Evans
Dame Kelly Holmes
Judy Murray
Pollyanna Wilkinson
Ferdia Lennon
Claire Douglas
William Hanson
The Countess of Carnarvon
Simon Heffer
Eleanor Mills
Rob Eastaway
Dr Brian Klass
Marcel Dirsus
Chris Jackson
Kathryn Sutherland
Franco Fubini and Dr Federica Amati
Sohail Husain
Carrie Sellon
Judith Heneghan and Tom Bromley
Kate Nicholson
Joanna Miller and Kate Kemp
Hannah Bourne-Taylor
Margaret Sturton
LV Matthews
Andy Hussey
Nicky Smith-Dale
Chris Jackson and Ben Pentreath
Royal photographer and award winning architect
Interviewer Rebecca Fletcher with Tracy Chevalier
Tracy shared how she created The Glassmaker
Judy Murray and Dame Kelly Holmes
Shared their sporting lives
Fabulous Patrick Grant
Taught us to buy less, buy British
Dr Brian Klaas and Jeremy Bowen
Premier BBC journalist shared his wealth of knowledge.
Fiction Writers
Interviewer Rebecca Fletcher with Joanna Miller, Tracy Chevalier and Kate Kemp
Top etiquette tips from the brilliantly eloquent William Hanson, on how to enjoy a festival event.
2024 Festival Authors
Frank Gardner
Wendy Joseph KC
Alison Weir
Daisy Goodwin
James Holland
Liz Earle MBE
Sam Sedgman
Governor James Bourke
SJ Parris
Dr Soham Das
Hugh Petter
Dr Brian Klaas
Edward Bulmer
Alice Peterson
Sarah Freethy
Chitra Soundar
Lauren Child
Watch time - 1 hour 5 mins
Never been to an event? Watch David Nicholls for free.
We were lucky enough to be joined by the acclaimed playwright and author of “One Day” in February 2025. You can watch the recording here for free anytime on any device or share with a friend. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did and look forward to seeing you at an event soon.
2023 Festival Authors
Earl Spencer
Alice Loxton
Bill Browder
Mandy Hickson
Chibundu Onuzo
Marc Morris
Claire Fuller
Marina Wheeler QC
Emma Sims-Hilditch
Frances Liardet
Gill Hornby
Charlie Corbett
Rebecca Abrams
Sue Stuart-Smith
Jennie Maizels
Maz Evans
“It was an absolute delight to take part in the Winchester Books Festival – such enthusiastic organisers and audiences, all coming together to share the joy of books.
I would be back in a heartbeat.”
Children’s Author, Maz Evans
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