Wantage Literary Festival Day 4
10 am, Adult £13. Student/Under 14 £8.
Janey Lee Grace – From Wham to Woo A Life on the Mic
Join us at Wantage Literary Festival as we welcome Janey Lee Grace to discuss her latest book, “From Wham to Woo: A Life on the Mic.” Janey shares her journey in the music industry, from the highs of touring with bands like WHAM! to the challenges of being a backing singer. With insights into pop music, TV, and radio, Janey’s book offers a fun glimpse into the 80s and 90s. Don’t miss this fascinating discussion with the Amazon #1 bestselling author and BBC Radio 2 co-host.
12 pm, Adult £13. Student/Under 14 £8.
Dr Wendy Hitchmough – The Bloomsbury Look
The Bloomsbury Group, including Virginia Woolf and John Maynard Keynes, revolutionised 20th-century culture and society with their works and radical beliefs. The Bloomsbury Look delves into how the group crafted its aesthetic through unpublished photographs and research. Chapters explore photography’s role, the Omega Workshops as a design hub, and the group’s impact on modernism. This in-depth analysis sheds light on the group’s visual narrative and its lasting influence on art, design, and society.
2 pm, Adult £13. Student/Under 14 £8.
Nicholas Orme – Tudor Children
Esteemed historian Nicholas Orme presents a comprehensive exploration of Tudor childhood, from birth to adolescence. Through playful games, songs, and daily life experiences, Orme vividly illustrates how social status shaped children’s upbringing, including their education and chores. Despite challenges, childhood was cherished as a time of learning and growth. Orme’s account offers insight into the Tudor era, revealing the significance of children in understanding the broader historical context.
4 pm, Adult £13. Student/Under 14 £8.
Plum Sykes – Wives Like Us
In Wives Like Us, Plum Sykes serves up a hilariously chaotic tale set in the rose-strewn Oxfordshire countryside. When Tata Hawkins storms out of Monkton Bottom Manor, chaos ensues among the eccentric inhabitants of Little, Middle, and Great Bottom. With a missing suite of diamonds, romantic entanglements, and scheming sisters, the stage is set for a rollicking adventure. Sykes weaves a delightful narrative filled with unforgettable characters, including a pig farmer-turned-personal assistant and a London barrister-turned-gentleman farmer.