Authors at QPBF

Every year the festival welcomes over 80 authors from internationally renowned authors to exciting debut novelists. Explore and download previous festival programmes below to find out more about the artistic programming at the festival.

Discover QPBF 2024

30 August & 1 September 2024
Alan Bennett

Alan Bennett delighted audiences in a unique event created specially for Queen's Park Book Festival to celebrate the playwright and diarist's 90th birthday.

Elif Shafak

The best-selling author discussed her new novel There are Rivers in the Sky with Claire Armitstead

Michel Palin

The legendary actor and author Michael Palin discussed his new book about his great-uncle who died in WW1, in discussion with leading travel writer Colin Thubron

Mishal Husain

Acclaimed newsreader and journalist Mishal Husain revealed her extraordinary family memoir Broken Threads, a Sunday Times Top 10 Bestseller, with journalist and broadcaster Rebecca Jones.

Kate Weinberg & Jason Issacs

In conversation with actor Jason Isaacs, Kate explored why so much literature is spawned from illness, and how, in periods of darkness, humour and perspective are the best kind of visitors.

Venki Ramakrishnan

Nobel Prize-winning molecular biologist and leading public intellectual Venki Ramakrishnan took us on a riveting journey to the frontiers of biology through a discussion on his new book Why We Die: The New Science of Ageing and the Quest for Immortality.

Alan Bennett
Elif Shafak
Michel Palin
Mishal Husain
Kate Weinberg & Jason Issacs
Venki Ramakrishnan

Discover QPBF 2023

2 & 3 September 2023
Zadie Smith

Zadie Smith revealed her new novel The Fraud in an exclusive event at QPBF in conversation with author journalist Alex Clark

Sebastian Faulks

The best-selling novelist discussed his latest thought-proviking new novel The Seventh Son with Peter Kemp, Chief Fiction Critic on the Sunday Times

Michel Roux

Celebrated chef and restaurateur Michel Roux joined the festival to share his latest feast of mouth-watering everyday recipes with his new book At Home in discussion with journalist and broadcaster Jay Rayner

Daniel Finkelstein

One of Britain’s most celebrated journalists and opinion writers discussed his moving and unflinching memoir Hitler, Stalin, Mum and Dad with Georgina Godwin

Ayòbámi Adébáyò & Stephen Buoro

Two fantastic young authors of Nigerian heritage discussed their work with publisher Ellah Wakatama

Choman Hardi

Renowned poet, scholar, novelist and Queen’s Park local Choman Hardi discussed her life and work with the writer and broadcaster Shyama Perera

Zadie Smith
Sebastian Faulks
Michel Roux
Daniel Finkelstein
Ayòbámi Adébáyò & Stephen Buoro
Choman Hardi

Discover QPBF 2022

17 & 18 September 2022
Robert Harris

The bestselling author and master storyteller revealed his brand new novel Act of Oblivion with Peter Kemp, Chief Fiction Critic on the Sunday Times.

Howard Jacobson

Howard Jacobson discussed his memoir Mother's Boy, his journey from working class immigrant origins to winning the Booker Prize and becoming one of Britain’s
best-loved authors.

Victoria Hislop

One of our most popular novelists spoke about her work with Claire Armitstead

Colin Thubron

The world's greatest travel writer discusssed his latest book, describing his extraordinary adventures on the Amur River, which forms the border between Russia and China.

Louisa Young & Ayanna Lloyd Banwo

Louisa Young and Ayanna Lloyd Banwo discussed their magical new novels with journalist Georgina Godwin.

Tessa McWatt & Monique Roffey

Acclaimed writer and academic Professor Tessa McWatt and 2020 Costa Award winner and Monique Roffey discussed race, identity and belonging from their own unique
perspectives.

Robert Harris
Howard Jacobson
Victoria Hislop
Colin Thubron
Louisa Young & Ayanna Lloyd Banwo
Tessa McWatt & Monique Roffey

Discover QPBF 2021

18 & 19 September 2021
Andrew O'Hagan

One of Britain’s leading novelists and essayists who has engaged with many of the key issues of his time discussed his life's work and latest novel Mayflies with Derek Johns

Elif Shafak & Sunjeev Sahota

Two celebrated novelists joined in discussion with Claire Armitstead

Ben Macintyre & Roland Philipps

Two of our leading experts on espionage in the 20th century discussed their latest works Agent Sonya and Victoire

Annie Mac

Local resident and internationally renowned DJ Annie Mac discussed her powerful coming of age novel with Georgina Godwin

Posy Simmonds

One of the earliest exponents of the graphic novel, a genre that has become hugely popular in recent years, discussed her work with Dan Franklin

Dr. Waheed Arian

NHS A&E doctor Waheed Arian discussed his extraordinary life and his book In the Wars: A Doctor’s Story of Conflict, Survival and Saving Lives with Tom Goodman.

Andrew O'Hagan
Elif Shafak & Sunjeev Sahota
Ben Macintyre & Roland Philipps
Annie Mac
Posy Simmonds
Dr. Waheed Arian

Discover QPBF 2019

29 & 30 June 2019
Bernardine Evaristo & Guy Gunaratne

Bernardine Evaristo and Guy Gunaratne's prize winning novels were revealed in a conversation hosted by Sam Leith, Literary Editor of The Spectator.

Jonathan Coe & John Lanchester

Two of the most astute observers of our national condition spoke about their latest books with Peter Kemp, chief fiction reviewer on the Sunday Times.

Jon Plowman & Reece Shearsmith

Actor Reece Shearsmith joined the producer Jon Plowman in How to Produce Comedy Bronze – a riotous trip behind the best British TV comedy of the last quarter century.

Linda Grant & Sadie Jones

Two fantastic novelists spoke about their latest work with critic and literary editor Sam Leith.

Misha Glenny

The best-selling author and adviser to governments and NGOs around the world presented his global success McMafia.

Francesca Martinez & Raoul Martinez

Celebrated local siblings Raoul and Francesca Martinez discussed their work, their lives and what freedom means to them, with journalist Marina Cantacuzino.

Bernardine Evaristo & Guy Gunaratne
Jonathan Coe & John Lanchester
Jon Plowman & Reece Shearsmith
Linda Grant & Sadie Jones
Misha Glenny
Francesca Martinez & Raoul Martinez

Discover QPBF 2018

30 June & 1 July 2018
Simon Russell Beale & Nicholas Hytner

The celebrated actor Simon Russell Beale and director Nicholas Hytner shared their unique insights into the work of England’s greatest dramatist.

Hugh Pym, Rachel Clarke & Adam Kay

Health Editor of BBC News and local resident Hugh Pym joined Dr Rachel Clarke and Adam Kay, in a discussion on the 70th birthday of the NHS.

Giorgio Locatelli & Russell Norman

Two culinary stars shared their passions and stories in a lively conversation exclusively for Queen’s Park Book Festival.

Philip Hensher & Joe Dunthorne

Two of our most brilliant young novelists discussed their most
recent books with the academic and critic John Mullan.

Nick Laird & Zadie Smith

Queen’s Park residents Zadie Smith and Nick Laird read from their latest
books and spoke about their work in an exclusive event for Queen's Park Book Festival

Greg Sams

The festival hosted an enlightening and entertaining literary brunch with veggie burger king, fractal artist and New Age entrepreneur Greg Sams

Simon Russell Beale & Nicholas Hytner
Hugh Pym, Rachel Clarke & Adam Kay
Giorgio Locatelli & Russell Norman
Philip Hensher & Joe Dunthorne
Nick Laird & Zadie Smith
Greg Sams