History Day

Four renowned historians in one day: Valentine Low, Daniel Swift, Victoria Bateman and Alison Weir

• Opportunity to meet the authors and have books signed

•.Learn more about Britain's story in an historic setting

• Free access to the extensive grounds during breaks

• Free parking

Valentine Low – Power and the Palace

Power and the Palace is the follow-up to Low’s bestselling Courtiers. The new book lifts the lid on the mysterious power dynamic at the heart of the British state – the secretive and poorly understood relationship between the monarchy and the government. Featuring every sovereign from Queen Victoria to King Charles, and looking forward to the future reign of King William, the book seeks to understand how Britain has gone from a country where the monarch assumed the right to appoint the prime minister of their choice to one where they go to almost extreme lengths to distance themselves from the process. At the same time the monarch retains a crucial role as head of the nation. Based on nearly 100 interviews with senior politicians, top civil servants, royal aides and constitutional experts, Power and the Palace rewrites our understanding of the political power of the monarchy.

Daniel Swift – The Dream Factory: London's First Playhouse and the Making of William Shakespeare

In 1576, in a muddy field in Shoreditch, James Burbage erected London’s first purpose-built commercial playhouse. Through the life of this little-known playhouse, discover how Shakespeare became Shakespeare, the Elizabethan stage began to flourish and the world that produced Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Daniel Swift teaches at the New College of the Humanities in London. His first book, Bomber County, was long-listed for the Samuel Johnson Prize and the Guardian First Book Award, and his essays and reviews have appeared in The New York Times, New Statesman, and Harper’s Magazine.

Victoria Bateman – Economica

Humanity’s journey from poverty to prosperity is filled with men who have become household names, but how many female entrepreneurs, merchants and industrialists can you name? Women have never been 'missing' from economic life - they were simply hidden from view by those writing the history books. Historian, Victoria Bateman joins us to discuss, Economica - where she rescues these women from obscurity, charting the vital role many have played, from hunter-gatherers to AI engineers, in a thrilling, globespanning narrative that rewrites our understanding of economic history.

Alison Weir – The Cardinal

Join bestselling author Alison Weir as she returns to the Festival to speak about her new book on Cardinal Wolsey. Alison's new novel tells the story of Wolsey the man, his incredible rise to power and his tragic fall.

This year, we’re pleased to give you more choice and are offering two tickets, one enabling you to bring your own lunch and one with a light lunch provided.

The light lunch option includes a sandwich, packet of crisps, piece of fruit and small mini bite.

There is a coffee and tea available so bring your reusable cup with you. We will have tap water and cordial available so bring a water bottle with you.

Are you a member of a Book Club or Reading Group?

We offer 10% discount when booking for 5 or more people together. To book for a group please email alexandrews@guildfordbookfestival.co.uk.