Authors at QPBF
Every year the festival welcomes 50 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 2024Alan 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 ShafakThe best-selling author discussed her new novel There are Rivers in the Sky with Claire Armitstead
Michel PalinThe 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 HusainAcclaimed 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 IssacsIn 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 RamakrishnanNobel 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.
Discover QPBF 2023
2 & 3 September 2023Zadie Smith revealed her new novel The Fraud in an exclusive event at QPBF in conversation with author journalist Alex Clark
Sebastian FaulksThe best-selling novelist discussed his latest thought-proviking new novel The Seventh Son with Peter Kemp, Chief Fiction Critic on the Sunday Times
Michel RouxCelebrated 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 FinkelsteinOne 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 BuoroTwo fantastic young authors of Nigerian heritage discussed their work with publisher Ellah Wakatama
Choman HardiRenowned poet, scholar, novelist and Queen’s Park local Choman Hardi discussed her life and work with the writer and broadcaster Shyama Perera
Discover QPBF 2022
17 & 18 September 2022The bestselling author and master storyteller revealed his brand new novel Act of Oblivion with Peter Kemp, Chief Fiction Critic on the Sunday Times.
Howard JacobsonHoward 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.
One of our most popular novelists spoke about her work with Claire Armitstead
Colin ThubronThe 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 BanwoLouisa Young and Ayanna Lloyd Banwo discussed their magical new novels with journalist Georgina Godwin.
Tessa McWatt & Monique RoffeyAcclaimed writer and academic Professor Tessa McWatt and 2020 Costa Award winner and Monique Roffey discussed race, identity and belonging from their own unique
perspectives.
Discover QPBF 2021
18 & 19 September 2021One 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 SahotaTwo celebrated novelists joined in discussion with Claire Armitstead
Ben Macintyre & Roland PhilippsTwo of our leading experts on espionage in the 20th century discussed their latest works Agent Sonya and Victoire
Annie MacLocal resident and internationally renowned DJ Annie Mac discussed her powerful coming of age novel with Georgina Godwin
Posy SimmondsOne 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 ArianNHS 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.
Discover QPBF 2019
29 & 30 June 2019Bernardine 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 LanchesterTwo 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 ShearsmithActor 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 JonesTwo fantastic novelists spoke about their latest work with critic and literary editor Sam Leith.
Misha GlennyThe best-selling author and adviser to governments and NGOs around the world presented his global success McMafia.
Francesca Martinez & Raoul MartinezCelebrated local siblings Raoul and Francesca Martinez discussed their work, their lives and what freedom means to them, with journalist Marina Cantacuzino.
Discover QPBF 2018
30 June & 1 July 2018The 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 KayHealth 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 NormanTwo culinary stars shared their passions and stories in a lively conversation exclusively for Queen’s Park Book Festival.
Philip Hensher & Joe DunthorneTwo of our most brilliant young novelists discussed their most
recent books with the academic and critic John Mullan.
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
The festival hosted an enlightening and entertaining literary brunch with veggie burger king, fractal artist and New Age entrepreneur Greg Sams
