Village Books

When the Inter-Continental Kabul opened in 1969, Afghanistan’s first luxury hotel symbolised a dream of a modernising country connected to the world. More than fifty years on, the Inter-Continental is still standing. It has endured Soviet occupation, multiple coups, a grievous civil war, a US invasion and the rise, fall and rise of the Taliban. History lives within its scarred windows and walls. Lyse Doucet, the BBC’s Chief International Correspondent, has been checking into the Inter-Continental since 1988. And here, she uses its story to craft a richly immersive history of modern Afghanistan. It is the story of Hazrat, the septuagenarian housekeeper who still holds fast to his Inter-Continental training from the hotel’s 1970s glory days – an era of haute cuisine and high fashion, when Afghanistan was a kingdom and Kabul was the ‘Paris of Asia’. It is the story of Abida, who became the first female chef to cook in the Inter-Con’s famous kitchen after the fall of the Taliban in 2001. And it is the lives of Malalai and Sadeq, the twenty-something staff who seized every opportunity offered by two decades of fragile democracy – only to witness the Taliban roaring back in 2021. The result is a remarkably vivid history of how Afghans have survived a half century of destruction and disruption. It is the story of a hotel but also the story of a people. Tickets: Standard ticket: £12 Book & ticket: £32 (includes a copy of The Finest Hotel in Kabul, book RRP £22) Concession ticket (under 18s): £10 Book tickets HERE

Struggling to build healthy family eating habits? Join Dr Clare Bailey Mosley and child psychiatrist Professor Stephen Scott as they share simple, proven ways to transform family mealtimes. Discover quick, healthy recipes, clear boundaries and how shared meals can strengthen bonds with your children, improve behaviour, and bring real connection to even the busiest of households. Because it’s not just what we eat, but how we eat that matters. Dr Clare Bailey Mosley, her husband Dr Michael Mosley and their four children always shared family meals around their kitchen table. However hectic life became, sitting down to eat together was a priority which, Clare believes, helped to hold their busy family together. “Eating Together is the book I was writing before the sudden loss of my husband, Michael. Completing it became a source of strength and purpose in the months that followed. I hope it helps families to eat well but, more than that, I hope it encourages families to come together and appreciate one another.” Clare wrote Eating Together with the help of Stephen Scott, Professor of Child Health and Behaviours at Kings College London and a leading expert in parenting. The book is grounded in science, offering parents practical advice on building better family habits. Stephen is a local author and we’re delighted to be supporting the publication of his new book. “A great book with an incredibly important message. Essential for every family balancing time, money and health.” Chris Van Tulleken Tickets: Standard ticket: £12 Book & ticket: £30 (includes a signed copy of Eating Well, book RRP £20) Concession ticket: £10 Book tickets HERE

Somewhere, a Boy and a Bear. The extraordinary story of A A Milne, Christopher Robin and Winnie-the-Pooh. 2026 marks the centenary of the publication of Winnie-the-Pooh, one of the best-selling children’s books of all time. Best-selling biographer Gyles Brandreth knew the real Christopher Robin, and Somewhere, a Boy and a Bear is an intimate and revealing biography of A A Milne. When Winnie-the-Pooh first appeared in print on Christmas Eve 1925, his creator had no idea that this bear, and the fellow inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood, would go on to capture the imaginations of people of all ages all over the world for the next hundred years. In his new biography Somewhere, a Bear and a Boy, Gyles Brandreth tells the remarkable story of A A Milne, and of the ‘bear of very little brain’ who went on to become a global phenomenon. This is the story of a man, a boy and a bear – but it is also a gripping family drama, and a fascinating exploration of the complicated nature of growing up, and the impossible longing for a return to the enchanted places of childhood. Gyles Brandreth is a writer, broadcaster, podcaster, trustee of The Queen’s Reading Room charity, former MP and Chancellor of the University of Chester, as well as a regular on shows like Just a Minute, QI, Celebrity Gogglebox and This Morning. His many books include nine detective novels (The Victorian Murder Mysteries) and his best-selling autobiography Odd Boy Out. Since 2022 he has been appearing on stage with Dame Judi Dench in a show celebrating her life and on tour throughout the country with his own one man show. An award-winning podcaster, he hosts the multi-million download Top Ten podcast Rosebud exploring the first memories of remarkable people. Tickets: Standard ticket: £12 Book & ticket: £35 (includes a copy of Somewhere, A Boy And A Bear by Gyles Brandreth, book RRP £25) Concession ticket (under 18): £10 Book tickets HERE

Join Village Books and Alleyn’s Schools Enterprises with Sabrina Ghayour. Persiana Easy is a brand-new collection of inspiring recipes from the bestselling Middle Eastern chef – each carefully designed to be as easy as possible. Every recipe in Persiana Easy balances irresistible Middle Eastern flavours with accessible cooking. From midweek meals and traybakes to pastries and sweet treats, this collection features easy recipes to delight your family and friends, time and again. ‘For me, ease can be delivered in a number of ways and as always, I’ve wanted to deliver big flavour with minimal effort in a variety of different recipes ranging from the simple, more everyday recipes to recipes for times when something a little more special is called for, giving something for absolutely everyone for every mood and occasion.’ Sabrina Ghayour Sabrina Ghayour is a self-taught home cook turned chef, cookery teacher and food writer. She made her name hosting the hugely popular ‘Sabrina’s Kitchen’ supper club in London, specialising in Persian and Middle Eastern flavours, and went on to be named the Observer’s Rising Star in Food. Her cookery books include Persiana which became a global bestseller, Feasts, Bazaar, Simply and Persiana Everyday. Tickets: Standard ticket: £12 Ticket & book: £37 (includes a copy of Persiana Easy, book RRP £28) Concession ticket (under 18s): £10 Books tickets HERE

In February 2025, Michael Palin travelled to Venezuela to get a sense of what life is like in one of South America’s most culturally rich, vibrant but also troubled nations. In the journal he kept during his trip he gives a vivid account of the towns and cities he visited, the landscapes he travelled through, and the people he met. Venezuela is illustrated throughout with colour photographs taken on the trip, and permeated with his warmth and humour, this is a vivid and varied portrait of a complex country. Michael Palin has written and starred in numerous TV programmes and films, from Monty Python and Ripping Yarns to The Missionary and The Death of Stalin. He has also made several much-acclaimed travel documentaries, his journeys taking him to the North and South Poles, the Sahara Desert, the Himalayas, Eastern Europe and Brazil. His books include accounts of his journeys, novels (Hemingway’s Chair and The Truth) and several volumes of diaries. Please note: this event will be an hour-long talk by Michael Palin. We regret that there will be no time for questions. All books purchased will be signed by Michael Palin. Tickets: Ticket & book: £32 (includes a signed copy of Venezuela by Michael Palin, book RRP £20) Two tickets & one book: £44 (includes a signed copy of Veneuzuela by Michael Palin, book RRP £20) Book tickets HERE

A thrilling true story of courage, resistance and ultimately betrayal in the Third Reich captured by internationally bestselling author and prize-winning journalist Jonathan Freedland. The Traitors Circle tells the true, but scarcely known, story of a group of secret rebels against Hitler. Drawn from Berlin high society, they include army officers, government officials, two countesses, an ambassador’s widow and a former model – meeting in the shadows, whether hiding and rescuing Jews or plotting for a Germany freed from Nazi rule. One day in September 1943 they gather for a tea party – unaware that one among them is about to betray them all to the Gestapo. But who is the betrayer of a circle themselves branded ‘traitors’ by the cruellest regime in history? In another page-turning work of nonfiction that reads like a thriller, Jonathan Freedland, acclaimed author of The Escape Artist, sheds light on one of the most dramatic episodes of the second world war, telling a story of courage, resistance and ultimate betrayal that has deep moral resonance for our own time, and asks what kind of person it takes to risk everything and stand up to tyranny. Jonathan Freedland is the author of the Sunday Times bestseller The Escape Artist which was shortlisted for the Baillie Gifford, Rathbones Folio and Waterstones Book of the Year prizes. A Guardian columnist, Freedland has won awards for Columnist of the Year and Commentator of the Year and is a past winner of an Orwell Prize for Journalism. He is the presenter of BBC Radio 4’s contemporary history series, The Long View, and the author of twelve other books, three of them non-fiction, including his first, the award-winning Bring Home the Revolution. Tickets: Standard ticket: £12 Book & ticket: £30 (includes a signed copy of The Traitors Circle by Jonathan Freeland, book RRP £22) Concession ticket: £10 Book tickets HERE

Feminist History for Every Day of the Year by internationally bestselling author and feminist champion Kate Mosse tells the story of women’s and girls’ history, sweeping across the world and through the ages. From Mary Anning to Simone Biles, Billie Eilish to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Malala Yousafzai to Mary Wollstonecraft, Shirley Chisholm to Jayaben Desai, Lily Parr to Sophie Scholl, discover the stories of 366 incredible women throughout history. Within these pages you’ll find well known figures and unsung heroes, key cultural moments and forgotten stories, spanning across the world and through time, from ancient times to the modern day. Kate Mosse is an award-winning novelist, playwright, essayist and non-fiction writer. The author of eleven novels and short-story collections, her books have been translated into thirty-eight languages and published in more than forty countries. The Founder Director of the Women’s Prize for Fiction and the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction, she is also the founder of the global #WomanInHistory campaign. Tickets: Standard ticket: £12 Ticket & book: £30 (includes a signed copy of Feminist History for Every Day of the Year, book RRP £20) Concession ticket (under 18s): £10 Book tickets HERE

Around the Table is a selection of some of Diana’s very best essays, handpicked from over two decades of her beloved cookbooks. From the bustling Turkish groceries of the Edgware Road to the kitchen table of a cottage in rural France, a trattoria tucked away in the suburbs of Rome to the chilly Vermont countryside famed for its maple syrup, Diana Henry has followed her tastebuds around the world. In this collection, Diana’s writing brings ingredients to life on the page. Tuck into salty and sweet, buttery and inky purple and black olives. Blood-red threads of saffron that turn whole platters of food into gold, bleeding yolk-yellow streaks over creamy chicken and milky white yogurt. Mouth-puckeringly citrusy, easy to peel and almost seedless Valencia oranges. The simple pleasure of a warming slice of toast. This vivid and nourishing collection of essays on the joys of good food is an utter delight for the senses. Diana Henry is one of the UK’s best-loved food writers with sales of more than one million copies worldwide. She has regular columns in the Sunday Telegraph and Waitrose Weekend, her work has appeared in BBC Good Food, House & Garden, delicious. and beyond.. Diana has won numerous awards including Cookery Journalist of the Year and Cookbook of the Year from the Guild of Food Writers; Cookery Writer of the Year and Cookery Book of the Year at the Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards; and more. Tickets: Standard ticket: £12 Book & ticket: £30 (includes a signed copy of Around the Table, book RRP £20) Concession ticket: £10 Book tickets HERE A Village Books event in association with Alleyn's Schools Enterprises

oin Britain’s best-loved cook, Mary Berry, as she celebrates her 90th birthday with a career-spanning collection of iconic, fuss-free recipes for every occasion. In this beautifully illustrated cookbook, Mary shares 90 of her very best recipes—each one perfected over a lifetime of cooking. From sumptuous dishes like Mary’s best ever Lasagne Bolognese, a foolproof Pepper Pot Chicken and a freezer-friendly Mac and Cheese, to irresistible desserts like Raspberry Soufflé and of course classic bakes, including Mary’s Best Brownies and Lemon Drizzle Traybake, this collection features a mix of brand-new recipes and beloved classics for every home cook. Alongside the recipes, Mary shares stories and cherished family photographs that offer a glimpse into the memories tied to Mary’s favourite dishes. Accompanying a brand-new BBC series, Mary 90 is a lavish tribute to the joy of cooking and sharing good food. Dame Mary Berry is the nation’s favourite baker and author of over 70 books, including the bestselling Mary Berry Cooks, Mary Berry’s Absolute Favourites, Mary Berry At Home and Mary Berry’s Baking Bible. She was the much-loved judge on the BBC’s The Great British Bake Off and has been teaching the nation to cook for over four decades. Tickets: Ticket & book: £35 (includes a signed copy of Mary 90, book RRP £28), Book tickets HERE Please note: each ticket purchased includes a copy of Mary 90 (book RRP £28). Mary is doing a very limited number of events and we’re honoured she’s chosen Village Books and James Allen’s Girls’ School to be one of them. The inclusion of a book in the ticket price is a requirement of the publisher. A Village Books event in association with James Allen's Girls' School.

When award-winning food writer Felicity Cloake announced her dream to cycle across America, the reactions were… mixed: “You’ll die,” warned a Californian colleague. “You’ll be murdered,” added her mum. Friends panicked: “But… what will you eat?” Determined to prove there’s more to American cuisine than burgers and doughnuts, Felicity embarks on the ultimate coast-to-coast adventure, tackling America’s highways, byways and pieways by bike in election year, counting campaign flags and uncovering local favourites like crawfish stew and sauerkraut balls. from Memphis barbecue to Mission burritos, Italian beef to Tex-Mex-Chinese breakfast dumplings, she dives headfirst into iconic American dishes and the fascinating stories and journeys behind them. Felicity Cloake is the multi award-winning author of the Guardian’s long-running How to Make the Perfect series, the New Statesman’s food column and seven books, including One More Croissant for the Road and Red Sauce Brown Sauce, which won the Fortnum and Mason food book of the year award in 2023. In association with James Allen’s Girls’ School Tickets: Book & Ticket: £25 (includes a signed copy of Peach Street to Lobster Lane, book RRP £16.99) Standard ticket: £12 Concession ticket (Under 18): £10 Book tickets HERE

Tim Spector is on a mission to bring fermenting into our lives and kitchens. Drawing on the latest science and his own experiments, Ferment is an accessible introduction to the life-changing benefits of fermentation – for beginners and enthusiasts alike. Fermenting is one of the most ancient, nutritious and cheap techniques for preparing and preserving food and drink. With little more than time, patience and basic equipment, the humblest of ingredients can be transformed into nutritious foods with an astonishing range of benefits for our gut health, immunity and daily mood. Including practical tips and some of his favourite recipes, Ferment cuts through myths and misunderstanding to help us navigate the fascinating world of ferments and shows how they can help improve our health, our meal times and our planet. Tim Spector is Professor of Epidemiology at King’s College London. He is the bestselling author of The Diet Myth, Spoon-Fed, Food for Life and The Food for Life Cookbook, and scientific co-founder of ZOE, the nutrition science company. With a focus on cutting-edge science and honoured with an OBE for his work in fighting Covid-19, Tim stands at the forefront of his field. The original pioneer of microbiome research, he is among the top 100 most cited scientists in the world. In association with James Allen’s Girls’ School Tickets: Ticket & book: £35 (This ticket allows entry for one person to An Evening with Tim Spector. This ticket also includes a signed copy of Ferment by Tim Spector (book RRP £25)) Two tickets and one book: £50 (This ticket allows entry for two people to An Evening with Tim Spector. This ticket also includes a signed copy of Ferment by Tim Spector (book RRP £25)) Book tickets HERE

Pull up a chair to Martha Collison’s table, where the recipes are big on flavour with minimal fuss, making sharing food with friends easier than ever. Whether you’re looking for a weekend brunch spread, a little treat to share over coffee with a friend, a three-course extravaganza or a weeknight winner for two, Martha has got you covered. The recipes are all easy to follow, and produce delicious results without hours of effort in the kitchen. Martha Collison is a bestselling food writer and recipe creator. She has written three cookbooks, established a regular column for Waitrose Weekend, built a dedicated online following and become resident Show Chef on the Graham Norton Radio Show with Virgin Radio. She was also a finalist in the Guild of Food Writers Awards 2024, and has appeared on Saturday Kitchen. In 2014, aged 17, she took part in the fifth series of The Great British Bake Off and remains the youngest ever contestant. Tickets: £12.50 Book tickets HERE A Dulwich Festival event.

In Tree Hunting, Paul Wood seeks out the best individual trees – the most charismatic, quirky or downright spectacular – that grow in Britain and Ireland’s towns, cities and villages (and, in one case, from the crack in a church steeple). From a stumpy sycamore in Shetland, contorted by wind and hard weather, to the shining jewel in Brighton’s unlikely treasure trove of elms, Paul travels on a quest from north to south rooting out the legends and tall tales behind these marvellous specimens. As he delves into this rich ecosystem, he reveals how trees are inextricably bound to the story of our towns and cities: they have always meant a great deal to those that live near them, and they continue to shape the fabric of urban life in deep, and often surprising ways. Including sumptuous maps, grid references and charming travel notes so you can plan adventures of your own, Tree Hunting will help you unlock the secrets of Britain and Ireland’s urban forests. Tickets: £12.50 Book tickets HERE A Dulwich Festival event.

Why did so many Germans take part in the crimes of Nazi Germany? How did they come to support Hitler and follow him almost to the very end? For too long, the Nazis have been presented as little more than psychopaths or criminals. In his major new work, renowned historian Richard J. Evans makes use of a mass of recently unearthed new evidence to strip away the veneer of myth and legend from the faces of the Third Reich and present a more realistic view of Nazi perpetrators as human beings who were disturbingly like us. Hitler’s People is a chilling, brilliantly written work which allows the reader to understand the texture and values of the Third Reich and just how far individuals will go when so many normal moral constraints have disappeared. Tickets: £12.50 Book tickets HERE A Dulwich Festival event.

From the Women’s Prize longlisted, British Book award-winning, bestselling author of Small Pleasures, a new novel about love, family and the joy of freedom. Croydon, 1964. Helen Hansford is in her thirties and an art therapist in a psychiatric hospital where she has been having a long love affair with Gil: a charismatic, married doctor. One spring afternoon they receive a call about a disturbance from a derelict house not far from Helen’s home. A thirty-seven-year-old man called William Tapping, with a beard down to his waist, has been discovered along with his elderly aunt. It is clear he has been shut up in the house for decades, but when it emerges that William is a talented artist, Helen is determined to discover his story. Shy Creatures is a life-affirming novel about all the different ways we can be confined, how ordinary lives are built of delicate layers of experience, the joy of freedom and the transformative power of kindness. Tickets: £12.50 Book tickets HERE A Dulwich Festival event.