Few forms of words are more powerful in forming opinions than travel writing.
Decisions on trips of a lifetime are formed on the prose of travel writers; the popularity of a destination can soar because of a single book. Hear from the people who are at the centre of travel writing. Learn the secrets of where and how to travel and get advice from the experts – Victoria Mather the doyenne of travel journalists who is Contributing Editor of Vanity Fair, the novelist Tim Lott , Mark Palmer travel editor of the Daily Mail and Rosemary Behan travel editor of The National in the United Arab Emirates.

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The ever popular River Readings are back. Drift along the river in the company of some excellent readers. The words are chosen by Nansi Diamond who directs the Readings. The cast of writers includes: Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling, Spike Milligan, Philip Larkin, Carol Ann Duffy, Seamus Heaney, Ogden Nash, e.e. cummings and John Betjeman. The boat leaves from Hobbs boatyard. Boarding starts from 10.30am and 12.30pm.
The readings are hosted by: Tues Sept 27 - Helen Lederer, Wed Sept 28 - Nigel Starmer Smith, Thursday Sept 29 - Jeremy Child, Friday Sep 30 - Donald Trelford, Sunday Oct 2 - Jeremy Child.
Amongst those reading are : Sally Nesbitt, Mike Hurst, Philippa Tozer, Jane Robins, Richard Howard, Clive Franks, Nicola Holllis and Lottie Ferguson

Sponsored by Hotel du Vin & Bistro Henley-on-Thames

One of the greatest British travel writers takes a personal pilgrimage that has already been described as a masterpiece. He writes of his journey: "Mine, without my knowing, starts not long ago, in a hospital ward, as the last of my family dies… I need to leave a sign of their passage." The mountain in the title of the book is the solitary peak Kailas sacred to one-fifth of humankind. To both Buddhists and Hindus it is the mystic heart of the world and an ancient site of pilgrimage. This is a very personal story.

To a Mountain in Tibet – Chatto and Windus.
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Since 1964 when he left the diplomatic service the 2nd Viscount Norwich – to give him his full title – has entertained and informed us through his books and broadcasting.
Now the historian offers us a journey to the places in England that have played their part in the political, cultural, social, religious and economic story of England. And each of the places can still be visited from the Bridgwater Canal to Blackpool Pier and from Stonehenge to the Gherkin. A thought-provoking list that will doubtless prompt great debate.
A History of England in 100 Places from Stonehenge to the Gherkin –John Murray
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The ever popular River Readings are back. Drift along the river in the company of some excellent readers. The words are chosen by Nansi Diamond who directs the Readings. The cast of writers includes: Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling, Spike Milligan, Philip Larkin, Carol Ann Duffy, Seamus Heaney, Ogden Nash, e.e. cummings and John Betjeman. The boat leaves from Hobbs boatyard. Boarding starts from 10.30am and 12.30pm.
The readings are hosted by: Tues Sept 27 - Helen Lederer, Wed Sept 28 - Nigel Starmer Smith, Thursday Sept 29 - Jeremy Child, Friday Sep 30 - Donald Trelford, Sunday Oct 2 - Jeremy Child.
Amongst those reading are : Sally Nesbitt, Mike Hurst, Philippa Tozer, Jane Robins, Richard Howard, Clive Franks, Nicola Holllis and Lottie Ferguson

Sponsored by Hotel du Vin & Bistro Henley-on-Thames

Curious Adventures and Stories from a Vanishing World is how this autobiography in essays by a true child of the British Empire is described. Indeed this older brother of the renowned novelist Michael has lived an extraordinary life. Soon after Ceylon independence in 1948, his family found themselves destitute and he made his way to
Canada with just thirteen dollars in his pocket. There followed a hugely successful commercial career which he left to become an explorer and author and his encounters make up his unique collection. A great philanthropist, he was also an Olympian who
represented Canada as a bobsledder and was knighted in 2003.

The Last Colonial – Thames and Hudson
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She's back. She's still the editor of The Lady and still causing feathers to fly as
she takes that most English and traditional of magazines kicking and screaming
(well, perhaps in a very refined gasp) into the 21st century. One of journalism's
funniest and frankest women returns to Henley to regale us with more stories
about the weird and wonderful world of The Lady and to bring us up to date
with the very latest controversies and confrontations. If you thought Boris could
tell it like it is just wait till you meet his sister.

A Diary of The Lady – Penguin
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To enjoy a wonderful acting career, have co-created Upstairs, Downstairs (in which she famously played Rose) and The House of Eliott would satisfy many. But Jean Marsh also writes novels. Today she will talk about her stellar career and Fiennders Abbey, a gripping novel of emotional and social upheaval written, as one would expect, with considerable elegance, thought and wit. It is hard to believe that Upstairs, Downstairs was launched in 1975 and still continues. Her life is a fascinating story of a rise from humble beginnings to award-filled adulation.

Fiennders Abbey – Pan MacMillan

The world comes to Henley - quite literally. John O'Sullivan, an Irishman who has lived in Bali for many years comes together with Australian Mark Tredinnick to read their poetry and lyrical prose. John has appeared at Henley before, charming audiences with his words and humour. Mark is an award-winning poet, essayist, nature writer and writing teacher. Hot Gossip is the ultimate intimate cafe venue, join them for a very personal and personable evening.

There could be no more fitting editor to collate essays on forty of the great
explorers. Among his many accomplishments Robin is an explorer, a writer, a film-maker and a conservationist. Our journey takes us from the great era of oceanic exploration five hundred years ago, when Columbus reached the New World to the exploits of Richard Burton who was lionized for his achievements; David Livingstone who covered immense distances in Africa to convert the natives and to stop the slave trade; Wally Herbert the great polar explorer; Gertrude Bell who singlehandedly brought about the modern state of Iraq; and Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space.

The Great Explorers – Thames and Hudson
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The world's best restaurant, Noma, is in Scandinavia and here's your chance to find out why. Signe is a London-based food anthropologist, writer and cook who grew up in Norway who wrote the successful Scandilicious blog that has now inspired a book. She has a wide range of gastronomic interests, not least how to bake the perfect chocolate chip cookie. And as for Scandinavian cooking Signe is keen to point out: 'It's not all herrings and meatballs, we love game, cheese and other dairy products and have a wonderful tradition of cake and bread baking.'

Secrets of Scandinavian Cooking...Scandilicious – Hodder & Stoughton

Blood-splattered floors, high tension and everything very much not right in the world. The very stuff of thrillers. Three writers talk about what makes their timebombs of novels tick. Sophie Hannah manages to be both a very successful psychological
thriller writer and poet. Her poems are studied at GCSE A Level, her chilling novels have won her a cult following. Her latest is the sixth featuring DC Simon Waterhouse and DS Charlotte 'Charlie' Zailer and is set in Cambridge where Sophie. Patrick Lennon is a local author who has been a true friend of the festival. With yet another best-seller on his hands. TV producer Dan Simmons gets himself embedded with finds a regiment about to be deployed in Afghanistan on a tough anti-heroin operation. He shoots some film. Then he shoots himself. Ex-cop Tom Fletcher living a quiet family life in the remote Cambridgeshire countryside, has no idea why the TV man shot himself but some very dangerous people think otherwise.

Sophie Hannah - Lasting Damage – Hodder and Stoughton,
Patrick Lennon - Cut Out – Hodder and Stoughton.
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The former champion jockey Dick Francis created a unique genre of crime novels centred on the world of racing and they sold by the million. Sadly he died last year at the age of 89 but his writing name lives on with no small credit due to his youngest son, Felix, who was his father's manager and they co-wrote some of the later books. A chance to hear about a writing legend and get to know what makes the Francis style so strong and long-lasting.

Gamble - Michael Joseph
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