A stellar line-up of authors, creative writing workshops, poetry performances and special events for children has made the Henley Literary Festival a high point of the literary calendar. This year’s Festival will be the most sparkling yet, with more speakers, events, and entertainment than ever before.

Highlights of 2010

Among those already confirmed for this year's Festival are Melvyn Bragg, the outstanding media figure of our time; Antonia Fraser, well-known biographer and widow of playwright Harold Pinter; Andrew Rawnsley the political journalist who lifted the curtain on the feuds and friendships of new Labour; award-winning novelists Jonathan Coe, Lionel Shriver, Helen Dunmore, Blake Morrison, and Penelope Lively; legendary dancer Leslie Caron who starred in An American in Paris and Gigi; comedian Alexei Sayle; Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire, the last of the Mitford sisters; editor Rachel Johnson and columnist and novelist Allison Pearson; media pundit Max Hastings; former diplomat and Washington insider Christopher Meyer; politicians Chris Mullin and Peter Hain; and three of our most insightful broadcasters, Fergal Keane, Matthew Parris, and Peter Snow.  

A literary feast

Join us at the lifestyle stage for the latest on food, design and gardening plus lively debates on issues from feminism to adultery. Speakers include cookery writers Sarah Raven and Josceline Dimbleby, journalist Irma Kurtz, novelist Rosie Thomas, and marital therapist Andrew G Marshall.

Back by popular demand

Look forward to even more of your favourites - ten blissful River Readings on board the Hibernia, a morning of Writers’ Workshops, and The Henley Literary Festival for Children – three fun-packed days for under-14s.