Was Grigori Rasputin a visionary, a fraud, or a victim of history?

Antony Beevor searches for the truth about the great seducer of the Romanovs, the wild mystic who laid the ground for the Russian Revolution.

When Russia’s Dowager Empress was pregnant with the future Tsar, she dreamed that a peasant would one day kill her son. The idea terrified her, and for the rest of her days she ‘lived under the pressure of the prophecy’.

Rasputin had no official position. A barely literate moujhik from Siberia, he had no forces at his command. He was a devoted monarchist, not a revolutionary. And yet, through his uncanny seduction of the imperial household, he contributed more than any other individual to the collapse of the greatest autocracy in the world. ‘This man was unique’, observed one writer who knew him well. ‘Like a character out of a novel, he lived in legend, he died in legend, and his memory is cloaked in legend.’

In this extraordinary new work, Antony Beevor, master of narrative history on the grandest scale, sharpens his focus to pierce the fog of fantasy that has only grown denser over time.

“Totally fascinating, compelling and beautifully written. In its deep political and psychological understanding of Rasputin, the Romanovs and Russia itself, it’s intriguing and original. One of the great stories of history, told by one of our greatest historians” Simon Sebag Montefiore.

Antony Beevor is the author of thirteen works of non-fiction, including Crete (1991), which was awarded a Runciman Prize; Stalingrad (1998), which won the first Samuel Johnson Prize, the Wolfson Prize for History and the Hawthornden Prize for Literature; and D-Day (2009), which received the Prix Henry Malherbe in France and the Westminster Medal, and was a no. 1 bestseller in seven countries.

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Drawing on the previously untapped collection of firsthand accounts in the BBC’s biggest oral history project, The People’s War reveals the untold stories of everyday bravery, moments of terror, and tales of life-affirming community that bring colour to the six years of World War II. Historian John Willis is the very first to fully bring to light this priceless and extensive collection of 47,000 testimonies and over 400 diaries and letters.

These letters and testimonies take us from beaches of Dunkirk to prisoner-of-war camps in Singapore and to the homes of ordinary Britons. The People’s War offers readers a unique opportunity to understand what the war felt like to the lives of millions and keep the flame of memory alive of the extraordinary human resilience of those on the home front as much as on the battle front.

John Willis is a historian and author of Nagasaki: The Forgotten Prisoners. One of Britain’s best-known television executives, he held posts as Director of Programmes at Channel 4 and Director of Factual and Learning at the BBC. In 2012, he was elected Chair of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). He is currently Chair of Governors at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London.

This event will be chaired by Peter Grimsdale.

In association with James Allen’s Girls’ School.

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Helen Goh has been a recipe developer with Ottolenghi for more than a decade and is co-author with Yotam Ottolenghi of the best-selling books Sweet and Comfort. Join us for an evening of conversation with Helen and Yotam to celebrate the publication of Helen’s first solo book, Baking & the Meaning of Life.

When we bake, it’s never just about the richness of the butterscotch or the crisp flakiness of the pastry. Whether you’re a beginner or a veteran, when you roll up your sleeves and get out the mixing bowl, you do it for reasons far beyond the mere production of a piece of food. Few know this better than Helen Goh, a baking columnist and co-author of bestsellers Sweet and Comfort, and – uniquely – a practising psychologist.

In this, her first solo cookbook, Helen draws on her own life to bring together 100 favourite recipes that show how baking is the ultimate vehicle to convey joy and connection. There’s the buttery chocolate babka Helen and her son love to make together, a fragrant pandan chiffon cake that instantly transports her back to the familiar warmth of her Malaysian childhood, the cheesy cornbread muffins that are her go-tos for picnics, and her sweetly spiced orange madeleines that are deliciously simple and ideal to share.

Helen Goh was born in Malaysia and moved to Australia with her family at age 11. A trained psychologist, she combines psychology practice with a cooking career, becoming head pastry chef at a landmark Melbourne restaurant before moving to London and joining Ottolenghi. Yotam Ottolenghi is an award-winning restaurateur and author.

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The Christmas Companion is the indispensable guide to a cosy, relaxed and memorable Christmas. With sections covering Magic Making, Feasting and Making Merry the book is filled with delicious recipes, inspirational ideas and helpful advice for making the very most of the festive season.

There are sections on how to plan a magical Christmas which includes craft ideas such as wreaths, homemade decorations, advent calendars and crackers, all with different levels of involvement depending on your time and crafting abilities.

At the heart of the book are recipes for the whole winter season – from holiday parties, to bake sales, to Christmas lunch – whether you’re feeding two or twenty. Recipes include cocktails such as Amarena Amaretto Sour and Chestnut Martini, main dishes from Pomegranate-Glazed Turkey to Camembert and Cranberry Pithivier and a range of cakes and puddings like Gingerbread, Cranberry and Zabaione Trifle and Christmas Brownies.

From planning to parties, The Christmas Companion brings the magic, warmth and sparkle of the Christmas season thanks to Skye’s aspirational meets effortless style. It will encourage you to do Christmas your way – picking and choosing the ideas, recipes and traditions that appeal to you.

Skye McAlpine is a cookery writer who believes that food tastes best when shared with others. She is author of three other cookbooks, A Table in Venice, A Table for Friends and A Table Full of Love. She writes a monthly recipe column for The Sunday Times, as well as the popular Substack newsletter, ‘The Dolce Vita Diaries’; and contributes to publications from around the world.

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More than fifty years on, the Inter-Continental is still standing. It has endured Soviet occupation, multiple coups, a grievous civil war, a US invasion and the rise, fall and rise of the Taliban. History lives within its scarred windows and walls.

Lyse Doucet, the BBC’s Chief International Correspondent, has been checking into the Inter-Continental since 1988. And here, she uses its story to craft a richly immersive history of modern Afghanistan.

It is the story of Hazrat, the septuagenarian housekeeper who still holds fast to his Inter-Continental training from the hotel’s 1970s glory days – an era of haute cuisine and high fashion, when Afghanistan was a kingdom and Kabul was the ‘Paris of Asia’. It is the story of Abida, who became the first female chef to cook in the Inter-Con’s famous kitchen after the fall of the Taliban in 2001. And it is the lives of Malalai and Sadeq, the twenty-something staff who seized every opportunity offered by two decades of fragile democracy – only to witness the Taliban roaring back in 2021.

The result is a remarkably vivid history of how Afghans have survived a half century of destruction and disruption. It is the story of a hotel but also the story of a people.

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Persiana Easy is a brand-new collection of inspiring recipes from the bestselling Middle Eastern chef – each carefully designed to be as easy as possible. Every recipe in Persiana Easy balances irresistible Middle Eastern flavours with accessible cooking. From midweek meals and traybakes to pastries and sweet treats, this collection features easy recipes to delight your family and friends, time and again.

‘For me, ease can be delivered in a number of ways and as always, I’ve wanted to deliver big flavour with minimal effort in a variety of different recipes ranging from the simple, more everyday recipes to recipes for times when something a little more special is called for, giving something for absolutely everyone for every mood and occasion.’ Sabrina Ghayour

Sabrina Ghayour is a self-taught home cook turned chef, cookery teacher and food writer. She made her name hosting the hugely popular ‘Sabrina’s Kitchen’ supper club in London, specialising in Persian and Middle Eastern flavours, and went on to be named the Observer’s Rising Star in Food. Her cookery books include Persiana which became a global bestseller, Feasts, Bazaar, Simply and Persiana Everyday.

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2026 marks the centenary of the publication of Winnie-the-Pooh, one of the best-selling children’s books of all time. Best-selling biographer Gyles Brandreth knew the real Christopher Robin, and Somewhere, a Boy and a Bear is an intimate and revealing biography of A A Milne.

When Winnie-the-Pooh first appeared in print on Christmas Eve 1925, his creator had no idea that this bear, and the fellow inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood, would go on to capture the imaginations of people of all ages all over the world for the next hundred years.

In his new biography Somewhere, a Bear and a Boy, Gyles Brandreth tells the remarkable story of A A Milne, and of the ‘bear of very little brain’ who went on to become a global phenomenon. This is the story of a man, a boy and a bear – but it is also a gripping family drama, and a fascinating exploration of the complicated nature of growing up, and the impossible longing for a return to the enchanted places of childhood.

Gyles Brandreth is a writer, broadcaster, podcaster, trustee of The Queen’s Reading Room charity, former MP and Chancellor of the University of Chester, as well as a regular on shows like Just a Minute, QI, Celebrity Gogglebox and This Morning. His many books include nine detective novels (The Victorian Murder Mysteries) and his best-selling autobiography Odd Boy Out. Since 2022 he has been appearing on stage with Dame Judi Dench in a show celebrating her life and on tour throughout the country with his own one man show. An award-winning podcaster, he hosts the multi-million download Top Ten podcast Rosebud exploring the first memories of remarkable people.

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In this beautifully illustrated cookbook, Mary shares 90 of her very best recipes—each one perfected over a lifetime of cooking. From sumptuous dishes like Mary’s best ever Lasagne Bolognese, a foolproof Pepper Pot Chicken and a freezer-friendly Mac and Cheese, to irresistible desserts like Raspberry Soufflé and of course classic bakes, including Mary’s Best Brownies and Lemon Drizzle Traybake, this collection features a mix of brand-new recipes and beloved classics for every home cook.

Alongside the recipes, Mary shares stories and cherished family photographs that offer a glimpse into the memories tied to Mary’s favourite dishes.

Accompanying a brand-new BBC series, Mary 90 is a lavish tribute to the joy of cooking and sharing good food.

Dame Mary Berry is the nation’s favourite baker and author of over 70 books, including the bestselling Mary Berry Cooks, Mary Berry’s Absolute Favourites, Mary Berry At Home and Mary Berry’s Baking Bible. She was the much-loved judge on the BBC’s The Great British Bake Off and has been teaching the nation to cook for over four decades.

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Venezuela is illustrated throughout with colour photographs taken on the trip, and permeated with his warmth and humour, this is a vivid and varied portrait of a complex country.

Michael Palin has written and starred in numerous TV programmes and films, from Monty Python and Ripping Yarns to The Missionary and The Death of Stalin. He has also made several much-acclaimed travel documentaries, his journeys taking him to the North and South Poles, the Sahara Desert, the Himalayas, Eastern Europe and Brazil. His books include accounts of his journeys, novels (Hemingway’s Chair and The Truth) and several volumes of diaries.

Please note: this event will be an hour-long talk by Michael Palin. We regret that there will be no time for questions. All books purchased will be signed by Michael Palin.

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From the bustling Turkish groceries of the Edgware Road to the kitchen table of a cottage in rural France, a trattoria tucked away in the suburbs of Rome to the chilly Vermont countryside famed for its maple syrup, Diana Henry has followed her tastebuds around the world.

In this collection, Diana’s writing brings ingredients to life on the page. Tuck into salty and sweet, buttery and inky purple and black olives. Blood-red threads of saffron that turn whole platters of food into gold, bleeding yolk-yellow streaks over creamy chicken and milky white yogurt. Mouth-puckeringly citrusy, easy to peel and almost seedless Valencia oranges. The simple pleasure of a warming slice of toast.

This vivid and nourishing collection of essays on the joys of good food is an utter delight for the senses.

Diana Henry is one of the UK’s best-loved food writers with sales of more than one million copies worldwide. She has regular columns in the Sunday Telegraph and Waitrose Weekend, her work has appeared in BBC Good Food, House & Garden, delicious. and beyond.. Diana has won numerous awards including Cookery Journalist of the Year and Cookbook of the Year from the Guild of Food Writers; Cookery Writer of the Year and Cookery Book of the Year at the Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards; and more.

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