Southwold Literary Festival ~ LUCY HUGHES-HALLETT

Lucy Hughes-Hallett is the author of “The Pike”, a biography of Gabriele d'Annunzio, which won the Samuel Johnson Prize for Non Fiction & the Costa Biography Award. Her other books are “Cleopatra: Histories, Dreams and Distortions” & “Heroes: Saviours, Traitors and Supermen”. Lucy Hughes-Hallett is also a respected critic and a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

Her latest book is “The Scapegoat: The Brilliant Brief Life of The Duke of Buckingham”. As King James I’s favourite, George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham was the King’s gatekeeper, right-hand man & lover. When Charles I succeeded his father, he was similarly enthralled and made Buckingham his best friend & first minister. A dazzling figure on horseback & a skilful player of the political game, Buckingham rapidly transformed the influence his beauty gave him into immense wealth and power. Buckingham’s story was part of a great political drama. Falling from grace spectacularly, he came to represent everything that was wrong with the country. In this richly compelling & authoritative account, Hughes-Hallett summons an era that still resonates today.

Unreserved seating.