HistFest

@histfest.bsky.social

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The best history events and courses all year round.

Fidelis Morgan (left) and Celia Imrie (right)
Ruth Goodman (right) and Rebecca Rideal (left) on stage for HistFest. There is screen saying Ruth Goodman Living History.
Dr Tara Puri, Essie Fox and Greg Jenner on stage at HistFest 2026
The Log Books with Tash Walker, Adam Zmith and Dan Vo on stage
Lucy Inglis, Pragya Agarwal and Lara Feigel on stage at HistFest
Photo of Ruth Goodman and Wanda Wyporska
Ruth Goodman and Dr Wanda Wyporska on stage at HistFest
Raksha Dave and Jess Venner onstage at HistFest
Photo of Prof. Michael Scott talking at HistFest
An image advertising HistFest 2026 at the British library from 18th to 19th April. The picture has a grey background and various speaker headshots, including Ruth Goodman, Greg Jenner, Saara El-Arifi, Michael Palin, Raksha Dave and Jess Venner.
Event image Text: Sir Michael Palin: Travels Through Time. 5PM, SUN 19 APRIL | BRITISH LIBRARY. In conversation with Rebecca Rideal. HistFest 2026. Image: An image of Michael Palin against a blue background. (Image credit (c) John Swannell
An image advertising HistFest 2026 at the British library from 18th to 19th April. The picture has a grey background and various speaker headshots, including Ruth Goodman, Greg Jenner, Saara El-Arifi, Michael Palin, Raksha Dave and Jess Venner.
Text: LIVING HISTORY WITH RUTH GOODMAN. 5PM, SAT 18 APRIL | BRITISH LIBRARY. Chaired by Dr Wanda Wyporska. HistFest 2026.
An image advertising HistFest 2026 at the British library from 18th to 19th April. The picture has a grey background and various speaker headshots, including Ruth Goodman, Greg Jenner, Saara El-Arifi, Michael Palin, Raksha Dave and Jess Venner.
Event image Text: THE LOG BOOKS: Voices of Queer Britain and the Helpline that Listened. 1PM, SUN 19 APRIL | BRITISH LIBRARY. DAN VO IN CONVERSATION WITH TASH WALKER AND ADAM ZMITH. HISTFEST 2026.
Event image Text: BIRTH, MOTHERHOOD AND CUSTODY: AN UNTOLD HISTORY. 11AM, SUN 19 APRIL | BRITISH LIBRARY. PROF. PRAGYA AGARWAL IN CONVERSATION WITH LUCY INGLIS AND PROF. LARA FEIGEL. HISTFEST 2026.
Event image Text: Sir Michael Palin: Travels Through Time. 5PM, SUN 19 APRIL | BRITISH LIBRARY. In conversation with Rebecca Rideal. HistFest 2026.
Event image Text: BIRTH, MOTHERHOOD AND CUSTODY: AN UNTOLD HISTORY. 11AM, SUN 19 APRIL | BRITISH LIBRARY. PROF. PRAGYA AGARWAL IN CONVERSATION WITH LUCY INGLIS AND PROF. LARA FEIGEL. HISTFEST 2026. Image: Headshots of Lucy Inglis, Pragya Agarwal and Lara Feigel against a purple, yellow and pink background.
Event image Text: Pharaohs and Empresses. 11AM, SAT 18 APRIL | BRITISH LIBRARY. Sofia Robleda and Saara El-Arifi. HistFest 2026. Image: Headshots of Sofia Robleda and Saara El-Arifi against a green and gold background.
The bottom of the image had speaker headshots, including Sir Michael Palin (left), Saara El-Arifi (top centre), Sofia Robleda (bottom centre), Ruth Goodman (top right) and Tash Walker and Adam Zmith (bottom right). The top of the image has the following text: HistFest 2026. 18-19 | British Library. Image credits: Michael Palin © John Swannell, Tash Walker and Adam Zmith © Jade Smith, Saara El-Arifi © Mustafa Raee
A video advertising an event for HistFest 2026. There are scenes of windswept nature and quotes from Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë. The event is The Brontë Sisters: Lives and Legacies with Greg Jenner, Dr Tara Puri and Essie Fox. 3pm, Sun 19 April | British Library The quotes used are: “I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.” Charlotte Bronte “He's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” Emily Bronte “The ties that bind us to life are tougher than you imagine” Anne Bronte
The bottom of the image had speaker headshots, including Sir Michael Palin (left), Saara El-Arifi (top centre), Sofia Robleda (bottom centre), Ruth Goodman (top right) and Tash Walker and Adam Zmith (bottom right). The top of the image has the following text: HistFest 2026. 18-19 | British Library. Image credits: Michael Palin © John Swannell, Tash Walker and Adam Zmith © Jade Smith, Saara El-Arifi © Mustafa Raee
An image with a cream background and the following text: BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! 10AM 21/01/2026. HISTFEST.
Composite image showing 12 books. The top row (l-r) The Wrath to Come by Sarah Churchwell, Proto by Laura Spinney, How to Survive a Plague by David France, Between Two Rivers by Moudhy Al-Rashid, Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, The Patient Assassin by Anita Anand. The bottom row (l-r) The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller, Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, Land by Maggie O'Farrell, Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See and The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco.
Two book covers: (left) The Wrath to Come by Sarah Churchwell, (right) The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller.
Image promoting a talk. The text reads “Sceptred Isle : Online Talk With Helen Carr” There is an image of Helen Carr and a king praying.
Event poster for Islam and Medieval England. Headshots of speakers on the right and the title on the left.
Event poster Photo of Professor Janina Ramirez on stage. An evening with Janina Ramirez 7.30pm, Mon 17 Nov | Storyhouse, Chester Tickets: www.storyhouse.com
Book covers Regeneration by Pat Barker Stalingrad by Antony Beevor
Animated video promoting a new podcast series. The background is old paper and the text reads: The wisdom of our laws, the faithfulness of our counsels, the righteousness of our judgments, can hardly be kept pure and untainted if they proceed from distracted and restrained minds. John Pym, 1640 The video then changes to an advert for the podcast. A picture of Charles I is in the centre and battle scenes are in the background. The text says: UPRISING: THE CIVIL WARS.
Book cover - Circle of Days by Ken Follett
Course poster - CLASSICAL MONSTERS: MYTHICAL BEASTS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD WITH JASMINE ELMER
Book club titles. Left - An African History of Africa by Zeinab Badawi. Right - Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Course poster - Classical Monsters with Jasmine Elmer
Event poster for Islam and Medieval England. Headshots of speakers on the right and the title on the left.
Dr Fern Riddell and Dr Matthew Sweet onstage
Photo of Dr Matthew Sweet
Event poster. Victoria's Secret: The Private Passion of a Queen Thursday 24 July, 19.00 At the Library
Event poster. Victoria's Secret: The Private Passion of a Queen Thursday 24 July, 19.00 At the Library
Composite of 6 books selected for the summer reads. They include: Henry V by Dan Jones, The Missing Thread by Daisy Dunn, Black Spartacus by Sudhir Hazareesingh, There are River in the Sky by Elif Shafak, The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller and Pachinko by Min Jin Lee.
Event poster. Headshot to author Fern Riddell (left) and her new book cover (right), Victoria’s Secret: The Private Passion of a Queen.
A photo of Heidi Thomas (left) and Stephen McGann (right) on stage with the audience behind them
Course poster: MEET THE TON: THE REAL HISTORY OF FASHIONABLE SOCIETY IN GEORGIAN LONDON An online course with Hannah Greig. Starts Thurs 29 May 2025. A picture of Hannah Greig can be seen to the left, the text is in the middle and the background is cream with flowers.
Book covers. The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant (left). Four Shots in the Night by Henry Hemming (right)
Picture of authors Thomas Harding (left) and Clare Mulley (right). In the centre is the front cover of Harding’s latest book, The Einstein Vendetta
Picture of authors Thomas Harding (left) and Clare Mulley (right). In the centre is the front cover of Harding’s latest book, The Einstein Vendetta