Event 44
James Hanning
The Bookseller of Hay: The Life and Times of Richard Booth
Venue: Hay Castle – The Gallery
Ever wondered how Hay-on-Wye became known as a book town, and who was behind it?
In this session, hear the story of bookseller and entrepreneur Richard Booth, the 'King of Hay', who created the world’s largest second-hand bookshop, attracting thousands of visitors from across the globe to the town.
Author of The Bookseller of Hay, James Hanning, tells the tale of the deeply divisive Booth’s eccentric and chaotic life, including how he created the bookish backdrop which – to his frustration – allowed a rival attraction, the now world-famous Hay Festival, to flourish.
Hanning, a frequent visitor to Hay since the 1960s, interviewed dozens of local people and booksellers in the writing of The Bookseller of Hay.
A former deputy editor of the Independent on Sunday, his other books include a look at the phone hacking scandal, and Love & Deception, about Soviet mole Kim Philby's time in Beirut.
Hanning talks to Hay Festival Director of Programmes, Helen Bagnall.
