TICKETS are now on sale for the 2019 Red Funnel Isle of Wight Literary Festival.

Popular sessions are expected to sell out fast, with some big names appearing in a rich and varied line-up over four days.

The festival takes place at Northwood House, Cowes, from October 10 to 13.

Historian Dan Snow will return, to speak about On This Day in History, a Sunday Times bestseller.

Kate Adie will be in conversation with Alan Titchmarsh discussing her career as a news correspondent – 30 years on from her report on the Chinese government’s attack on the student protest in Tiananmen Square.

Sir Tim Waterstone will talk about his candid memoir The Face Pressed Against a Window.

Tristram Hunt will discuss how a commitment to design, education and industry continues to define the V&A Museum.

Alexander McCall Smith will provide insights to his perennial favourite series the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency and Scotland Street, while introducing The Department of Sensitive Crimes, the first in the Detective Varg series.

Politician Jack Straw will speak on his book The English Job – Understanding Why Iran Distrusts Britain.

Sir Michael Morpurgo, bestselling children’s author, will talk about his latest book, Boy Giant: Son of Gulliver.

Historian A.N. Wilson will provide insights from Prince Albert: The Man Who Saved the Monarchy.

Journalist and novelist Tom Bradby, who presents News At Ten, will discuss his latest political thriller, Secret Service.

Lynne Truss will speak about The Man That Got Away, the second book in the Constable Twitten mystery series.

Journalist and satirist, Craig Brown, will present the One Stop Literary Festival, with parodies of Jilly Cooper, Robert Macfarlane, Richard Dawkins, Virginia Woolf and Paolo Coelho.

The 8th annual festival will welcome more than 60 writers, journalists, and politicians, in a programme covering current affairs, fiction, history, travel, adventure and science.

Julia Dams, programme director, said: “This year’s IW Literary Festival is full of excitement with many wonderful speakers. Do book early to avoid disappointment.”

For full details of the programme and online ticket bookings go to www.isleofwightliteraryfestival.com

To book tickets by phone, call 07821 123661 and leave a message.

Festival sponsor Red Funnel is providing festival-goers with 20 per cent off vehicle returns from Southampton to East Cowes bookable in advance, and deals for foot passengers.

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