Sandon Literature Festival 2026

Dear book lovers,

We are happy to announce that Sandon Literature Festival is returning on the 3rd & 4th of October 2026!  You are invited to join us for two days of enjoyable and stimulating conversations with some brilliant authors. Our EARLY BIRD weekend tickets are now available for only £60 for the two days, offering excellent value and the chance to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Sandon Hall. Delicious food and drink options will be available to purchase on the day to keep you fed and watered.

Programme & Timetable

SATURDAY 3RD OCTOBER

10.30 – 11.30 | Illustrated talk

Hugo Vickers
Behind Closed Doors: The Tragic Untold Story of Wallis Simpson

Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor died in Paris in April 1986, a few weeks short of her 90th birthday. Despite having vanished from public life for more than a decade, her death made headlines around the world, prompting a fresh retelling of Edward VIII's abdication story, and reignited a long-smouldering feud between the exiled Windsors and the Royal Family.

Acknowledged royal expert Hugo Vickers has followed the story of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor since he was a young man and his book "Behind Closed Doors" is part detective story, part gripping royal history. Hugo joins us to reveal a startling new perspective on the story of one of the 20th century's most fascinating and ill-fated couples.

12.00 – 1.00 | Illustrated talk

Sarah Dunant
The Marchesa: Resurrecting Isabella d'Este

Known as the 'First Lady of the Renaissance', Isabella d'Este was the first female art collector and patron of her time. Born in 1474 into one of Italy's most illustrious dynasties, she owned and commissioned work from artists including Michelangelo, Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci. She was also a consummate shopper, fashionista and a canny political operator.

Writer and broadcaster Sarah Dunant spent four years researching and writing her novel, "The Marchesa", which blends fiction, biography and wonderful art and is based on the life of this most formidable female character of the Italian Renaissance. Sarah will treat us to a lavishly illustrated lecture which brings Isabella d'Este to rich life.


LUNCH | 1.00 – 2.00


2.00 – 3.00 | In conversation

Simon Parker
The Wild Ride Home: Fifteen National Parks, One Remarkable Adventure

Acclaimed world travel writer and intrepid cyclist Simon Parker was restless for a new adventure but with a new baby, his explorations needed to be close to home. So he decided to embark on a gruelling quest to cycle through all 15 of the UK's national parks, in the 75th anniversary year of the first one being founded in the Peak District.

His book, "The Wild Ride Home: Fifteen National Parks, One Remarkable Adventure" is an eventful and thoughtful account of his adventures on the road, and his encounters with other people craving space, fresh air and natural beauty. He joins us to discuss his experiences across the astonishingly varied and increasingly fragile landscapes of our small island.

3.30 – 4.30 | In conversation

Cathy Rentzenbrink
The Agatha Cure: What Reading the Queen of Crime Taught Me About Life

"If lonely, tired and in need of solace, getting in the bath with an Agatha Christie is always an excellent idea." One Christmas, writer Cathy Rentzenbrink found herself drained by life's upheavals. In need of comfort and escape, she returned to the work of Agatha Christie, challenging herself to read all her novels in order. The result is "The Agatha Cure", a book which delves into the life of the most successful writer of the 20th century and there discovers life-affirming lessons on resilience, and how she might carry on writing.

We are delighted to welcome Cathy for this tribute to the life and work of Agatha Christie, a woman who inspires her for many reasons, not least that she was a "rather good writer of detective stories".

SUNDAY 4TH OCTOBER

10.30 – 11.30 | In conversation

Jess Mills
We Are Each Other

"This is the story of us: mother, daughter and granddaughter, walking on both sides of life and death together." Jess Mills is a writer, campaigner, podcaster and musician. In the spring of 2017, she gave birth to her first daughter, Ottie. Ten weeks later her mother, the Labour politician Dame Tessa Jowell MP, was diagnosed with advanced brain cancer.

Her profoundly moving memoir, "We Are Each Other", charts the year that followed and is a beautifully expressed testament to the strength and depth of the maternal bond, of finding previously untapped capacity for resilience and courage, and 'how grief both destroys and recreates us'. We welcome Jess to share her affecting family story in person.

12.00 – 1.00 | Panel discussion

Anna Bailey & Mark Edwards
Our Last Wild Days & One of the Family

We bring together two of the UK's most exciting writers of dark and thrilling fiction.
Anna Bailey's debut, "Tall Bones", was nominated for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. Set in Louisiana, USA, their second novel "Our Last Wild Days" centres on the Labasque family, whom the other townspeople regard as trouble-makers. So when Cutter Labasque's body is found face down in the swamp, no one much cares, except her former friend, Loyal May. Can she discover what happened?

Mark Edwards writes bestselling psychological thrillers in which scary things happen to ordinary people. In his latest novel, "One of the Family", Patrick spends New Year week away with his new partner's intimidatingly successful father at his mansion in Scotland. He's hoping to be accepted into the family but everything feels a little off. And then there are the rumours about a body found nearby the previous year.


LUNCH | 1.00 – 2.00


2.00 – 3.00 | In conversation

Horatio Clare
They Came By Sea: Stories of a Greater Britain

For the past several years, writer and broadcaster Horatio Clare has been investigating the small boats crisis, and as a result is determined to tell a different story from the one we normally hear; one of hope, humanity, and decency.

As well as profiling those who risk their lives to come to Britain, he also meets those who welcome them, and in some cases save their lives: the charity workers, the lifeboat crews, the decent ordinary people helping fellow human beings in crisis, against a backdrop of government incompetence and indifference. Horatio joins us to share the experiences which led him to write this essential, deeply humane book of reportage.

3.30 – 4.30 | In conversation

Sam Steele
Five Silver Spoons

One down, four to go….
When a suspected overdose victim is found to have received a postcard marked "You're first", DI Hope Fenton uncovers links to a circle of privileged Cambridge alumni, including a government minister, a lecturer and a surgeon. They have been bound together since a fateful night twenty years ago, but are they potential victims – or suspects?

As the body count rises, Hope must race against time to answer this question, while also coping with the terrible shadow of her own son's disappearance eight years before. But could the two cases be connected? Author Sam Steele joins us to discuss the inspirations behind her first crime novel, a gripping tale of shameless entitlement and merciless revenge.

Once again, we are enormously grateful to Burleigh, our wonderful lead sponsor, for supporting Sandon Literature Festival. And as in previous years, all profits from the Festival will be donated to Staffordshire Women’s Aid which has been supporting victims of domestic and sexual violence services since 1976.

Whether it’s your first visit, or you have joined us in previous years, we very much look forward to welcoming you to Sandon Literature Festival.

Caroline, Countess of Harrowby & Caro Sanderson
Co-producers