What's On
When: 10th October 2024, 6.30pm - 8.45pm
Where: St Peter's Church, Oundle
In October, we have the pleasure of hosting the wonderful Terry Deary for an Author talk. Terry will be discussing his latest book, 'A History of Britain in Ten Enemies'.
About the book:
Discover British history as you've never seen it before in this ridiculously funny book for adults by the multimillion-copy bestselling author of the Horrible Histories.
Ah, Britain. So special. The greatest nation on earth, some say. And we did it all on our own. Didn’t we?
Well... not quite.
As it happens Britannia got its name from the Romans, and for the past two centuries we have been ruled by Germans. As Horrible Histories author Terry Deary argues, nations and their leaders are defined by the enemies they make.
- Elizabeth I would count as a minor royal without the Spanish Armada
- Without the Nazis, Churchill would be remembered as an opposition windbag
- The surprisingly sadistic Boudica would be forgotten if it weren't for the Roman Ninth Legion
And after all, every nation sometimes needs a bit of unifying Blitz spirit (although in an ideal world, we wouldn’t have accidentally let Corporal Hitler go in the first place).
The British have a proud history of choosing their enemies, from the Romans to the Germans. You might even say those enemies made Britain what it is today...
A History of Britain in Ten Enemies is a witty, whistlestop tour through the history of Britain that will have you laughing as you find out what they didn't teach you in school.
The talk will be followed by a Q&A and book signings.
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Tickets can be purchased via TicketSouce (link below),
or in person at the Oundle Bookshop (cash only).
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When: 22nd November 2024, 7.30pm - 9pm
Where: The Oundle Suite, Fletton House
In November, we will be joined by expert and advisor on Russia, Keir Giles, who will talk about his latest book, 'Who Will Defend Europe: An Awakened Russia and a Sleeping Continent.'
In this urgent, vital book, Keir Giles lays out the stark choices facing leaders and societies as they confront the return of war in Europe. He explains how the West’s unwillingness to confront Russia has nurtured the threat, and that Putin’s ambition puts the whole continent at risk. He assesses the role and deficiencies of NATO as a guarantor of hard security, and whether the EU or coalitions of the willing can fill the gap. Above all, Giles emphasises the need for new leadership in defence of the free world after the US has stepped aside— and warns that the UK’s brief moment of setting the pace for Europe has already been squandered.
The talk will be followed by a Q&A and book signings.
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Tickets can be purchased via TicketSouce (link below),
or in person at the Oundle Bookshop (cash only).
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When: Tuesday 10th December - 2.30pm
Where: Glapthorn Suite, Oundle, PE8 4JA
A literary lecture by Dr. Diana Hallam: Sleeping Beauty - A Feminist's Worst Nightmare?
Come along for an interesting perspective on this well-loved classic fairy tale, and enjoy tea and cake while Diana takes us on a fascinating literary journey.
When: 30th January 2025, 7.30pm - 9pm
Where: St Peter's Church, Oundle
Brightening January will be the wonderful author Elizabeth Oldfield.
In FULLY ALIVE, Elizabeth Oldfield explores how we can build spiritual core strength for an unstable age. Drawing on the ancient wisdom of faith and stories from her own life, Oldfield writes about her quest to live a meaningful, fulfilling life, and the niggling questions that bother all of us below the surface, such as:
How can I focus on what really matters and stop getting so distracted by trivialities?
How do I become a depolarising person in a culture of outrage, tribalism, and division?
Can I find my highs in expansive, life-giving ways, rather than in a bottle of wine or a tub of ice cream? And what kind of world am I leaving for the next generation?
FULLY ALIVE is for readers looking for an honest conversation about the deepest questions in our ordinary lives, and practical, meaningful ideas to help us pay attention to the people we are becoming. For ourselves, our communities and the world.
The talk will be followed by a Q&A and book signings.
​
Tickets can be purchased via TicketSouce (link below),
or in person at the Oundle Bookshop (cash only).
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