David Owen, John Kampfner
David Owen talks to John Kampfner about Illness in Heads of Government During the Last 100 Years.
Roy Hattersley
Roy Hattersley tells The Story of Britain Between the Wars—of economic crisis, cultural and Olympic triumph, political disaster and the rise and rise of Winston Churchill.
John Prescott
11+ failure, Union firebrand, Britain’s longest-serving Deputy Prime Minister, and Blair-Brown consolidator John Prescott talks to John Harris.
John Bolton, Peter Florence
President Bush’s Ambassador to the UN (2005–06) discusses international relations.
Joann Fletcher, Corisande Albert
Joann Fletcher profiles the last and greatest Egyptian Pharoah-politician, mother, scholar and icon. Chaired by Corisande Albert.
Jeremy Clarkson, Rosie Boycott
Top writer talks cars and opinion.
Robert Peston, Peter Oborne, Robert Yates
Robert Peston (Who Runs Britain?) and Peter Oborne (The Triumph of the Political Class) discuss the nature of power and influence in Britain, chaired by Robert Yates (Extreme Nation).
Paul Greengrass, Francine Stock
The director talks about his films; the Bourne trilogy, Bloody Sunday, United 93 and The Murder of Stephen Lawrence.
Rt Rev V Gene Robinson
The Bishop of New Hampshire, whose homosexuality threatens the schism of the Anglican Church discusses The State of the Communion. Chaired by Stephen Bates, author of God’s Own Country: Power and Religion in the USA.
Naomi Klein, Rosie Boycott
The radical analyst Naomi Klein meticulously exposes the US policy of ‘Disaster Capitalism’ that overwhelms societies reeling from natural (tsunami) and military (Iraq) catastrophe. In conversation with Rosie Boycott.
Shashi Tharoor, Jonathan Freedland, Matt Frei, Jacob Weisberg
NY-based internationalist Shashi Tharoor hosts this conversation about American society with Jonathan Freedland of the Guardian, Matt Frei author of Only in America and Jacob Weisberg, author of The Bush Tragedy and online editor of Slate online magazine.
Jimmy Carter, Philippe Sands
The Nobel Laureate and former US Presidenton conflict resolution and human rights, and the work of the carter foundation. Introduced by Alan Rusbridger, editor of the Guardian. Chaired by Philippe Sands.
Gore Vidal, Adam Boulton
The legendary American wit, novelist and politico.
Joseph Stiglitz & Linda Bilmes
The Nobel Economist and his co-author audit The True Cost of the War in Iraq. Chaired by Nik Gowing.
George Monbiot
In the first of a series of conversations with the audience, the captivating author of Bring on the Apocalypse: Six Arguments for Global Justice discusses a global or environmental topic arising from the day’s news.
Cherie Booth, Francine Stock
The Matrix Chambers QC specialising in Employment and Human Rights lectures on Women’s Equality: Making your way in a man’s world.
Jonathan Freedland, Matthew D'Ancona, Safraz Manzoor, Jonathan Sauvan, Kirsty Williams
Who might we elect as leader of the free world? Jonathan Freedland chairs Spectator editor Matthew D’Ancona, Sarfraz Manzoor, author of Greetings from Bury Park: Race, Religion and Rock 'n' Roll, Greenpeace Director Jonathan Sauven, and Brecon & Radnor AM Kirsty Williams.
Alan Greenspan, Howard Davies
The former chairman of ‘The Fed’ in conversation with Howard Davies.
David Rose, Clive Stafford Smith
Stafford Smith (Bad Men: Guantanamo Bay and the Secret Prisons) and Rose (Violation: Justice, Race and Serial Murder in the Deep South; Guantanamo: America's War on Human Rights) explore America's negation of constitutional principle and the rule of law.
Paddy Ashdown
The Liberal peer discusses peacekeeping in the Balkans and Iraq.
Jon Snow, June Arunga, Richard Cockett
Much of Africa remains crippled by famine, war, disease and underdevelopment. Many complain of lack of aid and unfair trade terms, but is Africa destined to be impoverished because of the venality and corruption in the nations’ governance? Or are the political leaders doing the best they can in a continent still devastated by the legacy of slavery and colonialism?
Jon Snow chairs, speakers include June Arunga, Richard Cockett, Professor Tunde Zack-Williams and Michael Gidney Chair of the Fairtrade Foundation's Board and Director of Policy for the NGO Traidcraft Exchange.
Fergal Keane, Peter Guttridge
A conversation about freedoms of speech and journalistic engagement with the Irish journalist, ranging from Rwanda to Stormont, Soweto to St Peter’s.
William Hague
The charismatic Parliamentarian celebrates the great abolitionist.
Wangari Mathai, Rosie Boycott
The heroic and inspiring Kenyan Nobel Peace Laureate and founder of the African development Green Belt Movement talks about her life and work. Chaired by Rosie Boycott.
Baaba Maal
The Senegalese musician and UN emissary talks about the medical, social and educational challenges facing Africa in the new millennium.
General Sir Michael Rose
The former UNPROFOR (Bosnia) Commander examines the parallels between the guerrilla tactics used by Washington against the British in 1775, and by the Sunni insurgents against the Allies in Iraq today.
David Howell
Thatcher’s former Energy Secretary (1979–1981) argues that the climate change debate is on the wrong track to a low carbon future and that energy security is the worldwide key.
Tony Juniper, Rosie Boycott
The Director of Friends of the Earth presents his 95 ways to save the planet with missionary zeal.
Felicity Lawrence, Andrew Simms, Rosie Boycott
Felicity Lawrence and Andrew Simms talk to Rosie Boycott Lawrence (Not on the Label) and Simms (Tescopoly) discuss the rise and rise of the British supermarket and why it matters.
Roger Riddell
An examination of the $100bn governmental, NGO and emergency aid spending, and how to make it work better.
Tony Benn
The great diarist (Free at Last), orator and festival favourite will soon release his second post-parliamentary volume More Time for Politics.
Simon Finch, Gabriel Range
The award-winning and spectacularly controversial drama imagines the assassination of George Bush. The creators talk about verité and mockumentary style, narrative ethics and the wrath of the Republican Party.
Chaired by Peter Florence.
Azar Gat
The Professor of National Security asks: why do people go to war? Is it rooted in human nature or is it a late cultural invention? How does war relate to the other fundamental developments in the history of human civilization?
Robert Hutchinson
The rollicking tale of Henry VIII’s tyrannical Chancellor, who prosecuted Anne Boleyn, seized the monasteries and bought off the nobility.
John Adamson
The historian traces the careers and fortunes of the English noblemen who risked their lives and fortunes to overthrow Charles I.
Colin Thubron
The travel-writer passes through China, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey, taking in the most sterile desert on earth and the strife-torn mountain valleys of today’s conflicts. ‘To be travelling the Silk Road is to be travelling the history of the world: tracing the passage not just of trade and armies, but of ideas, religions and inventions.’
Douglas Hurd
The life of the one-nation Tory Prime Minister who gave us Corn Laws, Canada, Catholic Emancipation, the Conservative Party and the Constabulary.
Richard Perle, Philippe Sands QC
Bush’s former NeoCon Defense Policy Advisory Committee Chairman recently recanted his support for the invasion of Iraq: ‘At the end of the day, you have to hold the President responsible’.
Adam Zamoyski
The historian exposes the chaos, corruption and sexual depravity of the 1815 Congress of Vienna, at which Europe was scrambled by Napoleon’s vanquishers.
Paul Collier
Why the world’s 50 poorest countries are failing and what can be done about it.
David Puttnam
The advertising-man, film-maker, studio-head and now educator and political heavyweight discusses his career with Peter Florence
George Alagiah
The Sri-Lankan-born broadcaster and writer views the issues of racism and multiculturalism in his adopted Britain.
Lord Butler talks to Philippe Sands QC
A conversation about governance with the country’s senior civil servant, and author of the Butler Inquiry, into the intelligence relating to Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction.
Jeremy Leggett, Mark Lynas, David Miliband
The author of Half Gone: Oil, Gas, Hot Air and The Global Energy Crisis is joined by Lynas (Six Degrees: Our Future on a Hotter Planet) and the Secretary of State for the Environment.
Chaired by Guto Harri.
Hugh Kennedy
How, within a generation, Arab armies had overrun Persian and Byzantine civilizations and created an empire that reached from Spain to China
Adam Boulton
The Sky News anchor hosts a tabletalk discussion on what might follow Blair’s leadership.
Orhan Pamuk, Maureen Freely
The 2006 Nobel Laureate, talks to his translator about his work My Name is Red, Snow and Istanbul: Memories and the City.
Danny Postel
A brilliant inquiry into the contemporary Iranian predicament and what it means for the world.
Jo Thatchell, Nabeel Yasin
The Baghdad poet was denounced as an enemy of the state and fled Iraq in 1980. Tatchell’s book tells his story, and that of the family that he left behind.
Andrew Marr
The victory of shopping over politics, the collisions of government and people, and the resilience, comedy, cars and greatness of Britannia.
Dave Eggers, Valentino Achak Deng
The true story of the courage and endurance of a boy wrenched by conflict from his Sudanese family home and joining thousands of other orphans on the exodus to Ethiopia.
Chaired by David Freeman.
Antonia Fraser
The historian examines the women in the life of the Sun King.
Billy Bragg, Henry Porter, Philippe Sands
In this first Power Inquiry session examining the nature of democracy in Britain, the singer Billy Bragg, author of The Progressive Patriot, is joined by Observer and Vanity Fair journalist Henry Porter and Professor Philippe Sands QC.
Chaired by New Statesman editor John Kampfner.
Jonathan Feedland, Phillipe Sands QC
‘Further investigation into Tony Blair’s decision to go to war in Iraq is pointless. It is time to move on.’ Jonathan Freedland chairs a debate featuring a panel of first-rank speakers, including Philippe Sands QC.
Jonathan Freedland, Sami Moubayed, Amir Or, William Sieghart, Samir El-Youssef
The Guardian journalist discusses the situation in the Middle East forty years after the Six Days War with Syrian, Palestinian and Israeli writers.
Wole Soyinka, Alastair Niven
The Nigerian Nobel Laureate, ferocious and heroic champion of freedom of speech, discusses his plays, novels and poetry with the Director of Cumberland Lodge.
Geoffrey Robertson
The leading human rights lawyer discusses his work on war crime tribunals in Africa, and his latest books Crimes Against Humanity and The Tyrannicide Brief: The Man Who Sent Charles I to the Scaffold.
Simon Jenkins
The journalist examines how the Iron Lady changed our country and the nature of democratic leadership.
Stephen Marshall, Nick Cohen
Two searing and brilliantly entertaining examinations of Liberalism here and in America, from eco-shopping to Iraq, with Marshall’s Wolves in Sheeps Clothing and Cohen’s What’s Left? How Liberals Lost Their Way.
Chaired by Palash Dave.
John Major
The politician celebrates the golden ages of Gentlemen and Players, underarm bowling, the Empire, the gaming and the MCC.
Gordon Brown
The Chancellor (at time of going to press) celebrates his political heroes from Martin Luther King and Aung San Suu Kyi to Bobby Kennedy and Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
George Monbiot
How to Stop the Planet Burning analyses the issue of carbon emission with ruthless rigour and elegant clarity. The action and commitments Monbiot proposes are politically compelling and define how we might all move forward.
Wole Soyinka, Nik Gowing
The Nigerian Nobel Laureate talks about freedom of expression, the need to articulate truths and the power of literature.
William Dalrymple
Bahadur Shah Zafar II, one of the most tolerant and likeable of his remarkable dynasty, found himself leader of a violent and doomed uprising. The Siege of Delhi was the Raj’s Stalingrad: the end of both Mughal power and a remarkable culture. Chaired by Hannah Rothschild.
Michael Gove, Rageh Omaar, Ziauddin Sardar, Martin Bright, Tahmina Anam
From the beleaguered Iraqi parliament and Sharia courts in Karachi to Westminster’s ‘hearts and minds’ projects in Preston and East London, can Islam and democracy ever find common ground?
Kiran Desai, Steve Davies, Claire Armistead
The Indian Novelist discusses her 2006 Man Booker-winning novel The Inheritance of Loss Davies introduces her beautiful and politically passionate The Eyrie. They talk to the Guardian's Literary Editor.
Ghazi Hammad
Ghazi Hammad is the spokesman for Hamas and the Palestinian government. He makes a suprise appearance at the 20th anniversary of the festival.
Rosie Boycott, Charlotte Hollins, Peter Kindersley, Roger Williams MP, Jane Clarke, Barbara Crowther
With 18% of us buying British food, thousands of farms have been lost and the countryside is endangered. Rosie Boycott talks to farmers Peter and Juliet Kindersley, Roger Williams MP, Charlotte Hollins of Fordhall Farms, Jane Clarke, Meat buyer for Waitrose and Barbara Crowther of the Fairtrade Foundation about the Fair Trade for British Farmers campaign, and how we can help rural Britain by changing our food-shopping habits.
Ian Kershaw
The historian recreates ten critical political and military decisions taken between May 1940, when Britain decided to fight on rather than surrender, and the autumn of 1941, when Hitler decided to destroy Europe’s Jews.
Jo Confino, Mathew Anderson
Executive Editor of The Guardian, Jo Confino, and BSkyB Group Director of Brand and Communications Matthew Anderson discuss how their respective organizations are dealing with carbon reduction and sustainability.
A Greenprint debate
Katherine Hamnett, Neil Crumpton, Gerhard Knies, Nicola Heywood Thomas
Designer Katharine Hamnett joins Neil Crumpton (Friends of the Earth) and Gerhard Knies (TREC) to discuss the potential power revolution of CSP. Chaired by Nicola Heywood Thomas.
A Greenprint debate
Ronan Bennett
The Irish novelist (Havoc in it's Third Year, The Catastrophist), winner of several literary prizes and scriptwriter (The Hamburg Cell, Love Lives), talks about his life, his books and his personal experiences with the IRA, as well as about his latest novel set in St Petersburg in 1914, ZUGZWANG, published in instalments in The Observer newspaper and which can be read on the web page. The academic and poet Adriana Bebiano is assistant Professor of English and Irish Literature at the University of Coimbra.
Bob Geldof
The charismatic rock star and founder of Live Aid talks about music, Ireland and Africa: the G8 leaders, aid programmes and trade tariffs with Peter Florence, Director of the Hay Festival.
Frank Gardner talks to Rosie Boycott
The Arabist, BBC Security Correspondent, gunned down in Riyadh, whose deep engagement with Islam and the Middle East offers a unique perspective on The War On Terror.
Niall Ferguson
The 20th Century proved to be overwhelmingly the most violent, frightening and brutalized in history, with fanatical, often genocidal warfare engulfing most societies between the outbreak of the First World War and the end of the Cold War. What went wrong?
Chaired by Hamish Mykura.
Jilly Cooper talks to Phil Rickman
The high mistress of Rutshire sex comedy takes on the education system.
John Stevens
The much-admired Met Commissioner (2000-2005) discusses shoot-to-kill, terrorism, corruption, Blunkett, and Ongoing – his investigation into the death of Princess Diana.
Chris Patten
Free from office the former Hong Kong Governor and EU Commissioner speaks out on the players and interests driving world politics.
Holmes & Gen Sir Rupert Smith
Richard Holmes and General Sir Rupert Smith
Holmes reports from his regiment’s frontline tour of duty in Iraq, on the day to day experience of infantrymen in 2006 in his Dusty Warriors: Modern Soldiers at War. His experience commanding in the Gulf War, UNPROFOR and Kossovo informs The Utility of Force: The Art of War in the Modern World, Smith’s radical exploration of conflicts fought no longer as industrial absolute war, but as war ‘among the people’.
Carter, Hitchens & Younge
Graydon Carter, Christopher Hitchens and Gary Younge
The Vanity Fair editor, author of the savagely critical What We’ve Lost, joins the Hitch and the Guardian’s US correspondent Gary Younge who launches Stranger in a Strange Land: Encounters in the Disunited States to consider the state of the union.
Simon Jenkins
The Guardian’s political columnist discusses the US strategy in the Middle East.
Clare Short, Michael Codner
Clare Short MP and Michael Codner, director of Military Service, chaired by Stephen Tindale Is there a rationale for continuing Britain’s nuclear force in the twenty-first century?
Anna Politkovskaya
A devastating appraisal by the country's leading radical journalist, admired for her fearless reporting on human rights issues, especially the wars in Chechnya. The talk is given in Russian with simultaneous translation.
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John Pilger talks to Peter Florence
My Lai, Watergate, Hiroshima and Palestine. The heroic war correspondent and film-maker has collected the greatest investigative reporting of the last sixty years exposing the hidden agendas of oppressive regimes in Tell Me No Lies.
Christopher Hitchens, Colin MacCabe
The iconoclastic journalist talks about the end of political correctness and ranges around sexual politics. Hitchens is the author of the savage and brilliant portrait of Bill Clinton, No-one Left to Lie to and the radical The Missionary Position: Mother Theresa in Theory and Practice. He is a feature writer for Vanity Fair and Washington correspondant of The London Evening Standard. Having recently appeared on the fly leaf of The Mating Season, as introducer, alongside the name of the author, P.G. Wodehouse, he may die happy. He talks to Colin MacCabe.