Cliveden Literary Festival has announced its full programme as the iconic event returns next weekend.

Taking place at the historic Cliveden House in Taplow, and renowned as a forum for lively debate, this year’s Cliveden Literary Festival line-up features in-conversations with leading authors and thinkers, as well as panel discussions about many of today’s most pressing issues, with topics spanning current affairs, politics, history, business and beyond.

Celebrated author Zadie Smith will speak to Merve Emre about her dazzling career and first foray into historical fiction.

While Maggie O’Farrell, author of Hamnet and The Marriage Portrait, will discuss a life in literature with BBC Radio 4's Martha Kearney.

And looking back on a year of fiction, Tom Crewe, Marlon James, Fatima Farheen Mirza and Hannah Rothschild will reflect on the power and practice of the modern novel.

Historian and The Rest is History’s Tom Holland will talk about his Roman Empire trilogy and the world’s most popular podcast with Simon Sebag Montefiore.

While celebrated classicist Mary Beard will discuss bread, circuses and Caesars with Albert Read; Simon Schama will talk to Natalie Livingstone about his glorious career.

Peter Frankopan, meanwhile, will speak to Catherine Ostler about the past and future of the planet.

General Petraeus and Andrew Roberts will chatting to Con Coughlin about the evolution of modern conflict.

 Joanne Cash, Daniel Chandler, David Lammy, Emily Maitlis and Martin Ivens will talk about Labour’s expected triumph at the next election; leading political experts, authors and journalists Daniel Finkelstein, Olesya Khromeychuk, Philippe Sands and Jonathan Freedland will discuss whether international justice can ever be delivered.

Director of the V&A Tristram Hunt, Chanel biographer Justine Picardie and Curator of Modern Textiles & Fashion at the V&A Oriole Cullen will explore how Gabrielle Chanel revolutionised the way women dress in a panel chaired by Catherine Ostler.

And in an age of AI, Yonca Dervisoglu, Will Gompertz, Albert Read and CHANEL Global Head of Arts and Culture Yana Peel will debate how creativity can thrive.

The full 2023 programme and speaker list can be viewed here. 

Fashion powerhouse Chanel is supporting this year's festival alongside Citi Private Bank. The festival is presented in partnership with the National Trust and Iconic Luxury Hotels and in association with Tatler. Other partners include Champagne Laurent-Perrier, John Sandoe Books and Jardine Jaguar and Land Rover.

A committee of writers and historians runs Cliveden Literary Festival, including Andrew Roberts, Natalie Livingstone, Catherine Ostler and Simon Sebag Montefiore. 

Drawing on Cliveden House’s fascinating history as a literary salon, Cliveden Literary Festival was described last year by Succession’s Brian Cox as ‘[an] extraordinary environment … I can’t think of anything more perfect’ and author Robert Harris as ‘beautiful … like a rolling intellectual house party to which everyone is invited’, Cliveden Literary Festival is renowned as a forum for lively discussion, thought-provoking ideas, and political debate.

A sell-out success every year, festival tickets are now on sale via the Cliveden Literary Festival website.