LITERARY stars including Sebastian Faulks, Amanda Foreman, Ruth Rogers, Howard Jacobson, Antonia Fraser and Ian McEwanare are gearing up to appear at the inaugural Cliveden Literary Festival in less than a month's time.

On October 14 and 15 the stately rooms of the Grade 1 Listed Cliveden House and its National Trust gardens north of Maidenhead will showcase a selection of contemporary writers and celebrate the estate’s literary heritage and history of politics and intrigue.

Themes span high politics and low scandal, Russia since the revolution, Zionism, women in power, how to put history on screen, and art and exhibitionism.

Programme highlights include Howard Jacobson on his savage Trump satire ‘Pussy’, Man Booker Prize-winning novelist Ian McEwan discussing his life in books, Sebastian Faulks on his enduring obsession with love and war, Tina Brown reflecting on an ever-changing career before the publication of her Vanity Fair Diaries later this year and Michael Gove joining a high-profile discussion on Brexit, with Kwasi Kwarteng.

GQ Editor and author Dylan Jones will also be present discussing his biography of David Bowie alongside Ruth Rogers, who will talk about 30 years of the River Café with Simon Schama and Robert Harris who is speaking to Frances Osborne about his new novel Munich.

Natalie Livingstone, Chairman of the festival, said:“Anyone who has been to Cliveden will know that it is one of the most intoxicating places to be and I’m thrilled to welcome readers here for the first ever Cliveden Literary Festival. We are all set for a weekend of literary treats, fierce debates and sparkling discussion.

Go to www.clivedenliteraryfestival.org for tickets