Hexham Book Festival

I attended three sessions today.

First was Chris Mullins. It is 50 years ago since the terrible pub bombings that killed 21 people and injured 182. He worked tirelessly to prove the innocence of the six men who were found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment. His book, Error of Judgement, has just been republished.

I knew only the bare bones of the story, so I was very interested to hear his account. He spoke without a note.

Much more dramatic, if possible, was hearing Subhadra Das talking about her book, Uncivilised: Ten Lies that made the West.

Her talk was full of the ideas she has worked on over a number of years. She linked historical events with each other and with the present day. When she made a reference to the current war in Gaza, she used the word genocide.

A woman behind me stood up and shouted that it is not genocide. As she left, she shouted that genocide is only when millions are killed. Her three companions, I assume a husband and friends, decided to go with her. They were of retirement age.

Subhadra was very shaken. She had talked earlier about how better known authors than her have to have protection. The rest of the audience was very supportive and she managed to continue with her talk.

I think the book will be well worth reading. I need to digest and understand more of what she was saying. Some of it was very shocking.

https://www.subhadradas.com/

Finally, Alan Johnson, genial and good humoured, was interviewed by Chris Mullins about his third detective story and about much more. They strayed into current politics. Hexham has had a Conservative MP for all but one year of the modern parliament. (I think there was a LibDem once)

I wonder what I will dream about tonight?!

PS I usually use mono for portraits, but the red jumper and book seemed important to include on this occasion.