Philosopher Julian Baggini has for two decades demystified the role of philosophy in public life, discussing in clear and easy-to-understand terms the principles behind some of our modern dilemmas. In How The World Eats: A Global Food Philosophy, he examines how the choices we make about what to eat influence the way we live, with … Continue reading "How The World Eats: Wanstead Book Festival presents Julian Baggini"

From Captain Scott to JFK, from Mother Teresa to Che Guevara, Otto English’s Fake Heroes debunks conventional wisdom about some of history’s biggest names, bringint to light some of the darker truths they would rather have kept buried, while also celebrating unsung heroes. Otto English, aka journalist Andrew Scott, has become one of the country’s … Continue reading "Fake Heroes: Wanstead Book Festival presents Otto English"

New York Times bestselling author Daisy Goodwin tells the story of a scandalous love affair between the most celebrated opera singer in history, Maria Callas, and one of the richest men in the world. Callas’s glorious voice, instinctive flair for the dramatic and striking beauty made her the toast of opera houses all over the … Continue reading "Diva: Wanstead Book Festival presents Daisy Goodwin"

Paul Sinha is an award-winning comedian, a quizzing mastermind and a happily-married husband. But for much of his life none of these seemed remotely imaginable. As a boy, Paul struggled to find his place in a world where he didn’t quite fit. Who was he? An over-achieving schoolkid with the world’s knowledge at his fingertips? … Continue reading "One Sinha Lifetime: Wanstead Book Festival presents Paul Sinha"

A free talk by a local writer David Fulton on the disappearance of Yugoslavia, looking at the country’s diversity (ethnic, linguistic, religious and cultural). After dealing lightly with these issues it will move on to the four years running up to the death of Tito (1980) when he was an English-language lector in Prizren, Pristina … Continue reading "Whatever Happened to Yugoslavia?"