THE FIRST speakers have been announced for the Red Funnel IW Literary Festival.

Now in its 8th year, it will take place from October 10 to 13 at Northwood House, Cowes.

So far confirmed for the autumn event are:

  • Michael Morpurgo — the OBE-best-selling children’s author of more than 140 books, and author of award-winning War Horse, will be speaking about his latest work to be published this summer.
  • Tristram Hunt — the historian and director of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
  • Henry Hemming — returning to the festival to discuss his latest book Our Man In New York: The British Battle to Bring America into the Second World War, set to publish in September.
  • Dr Daisy Dunn — a writer classicist and cultural critic will introduce In the Shadow of Vesuvius, a biography of Pliny the Younger
  • Hugo Vickers — the well-know writer and broadcaster will talk about The Quest for Queen Mary, based on the revealing notes about the royal family from her official biographer, kept private for 50 years.
  • Mary Lovell — the acclaimed biographer whose work ranges from Bess of Hardwick to Amelia Earhart and the Churchill family.

More speakers will be announced in the coming months.Visit www.isleofwightliteraryfestival.com to sign up for the festival newsletter to receive updates.