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Thomas Keneally on the cruelty of writing
The Australian author talks about how the act of writing engages the subconscious
  1. Thomas Keneally on the cruelty of writing
    01:04
    Thomas Keneally on the cruelty of writing
  2. Kamila Shamsie: "Are we living our lives according to rules Shakespeare set up?"
    00:26
    Kamila Shamsie: "Are we living our lives according to rules Shakespeare set up?"
    View More From Salman Rushdie, Kamila Shamsie, Valeria Luiselli and Juan Gabriel Vasquez
  3. Salman Rushdie: "Shakespeare mashes up form"
    00:51
    Salman Rushdie: "Shakespeare mashes up form"
    View More From Salman Rushdie, Kamila Shamsie, Valeria Luiselli and Juan Gabriel Vasquez
  4. Valeria Luiselli recalls her first Shakespeare drama performance
    01:12
    Valeria Luiselli recalls her first Shakespeare drama performance
    View More From Salman Rushdie, Kamila Shamsie, Valeria Luiselli and Juan Gabriel Vasquez
  5. Claire Harman: ‘I’ve made Charlotte Brontë’s hair move’
    03:00
    Claire Harman: ‘I’ve made Charlotte Brontë’s hair move’
  6. Andrew Davies: 'Les Misérables needs a champion'
    01:20
    Andrew Davies: 'Les Misérables needs a champion'
  7. Caitlin Moran reads from her latest book Moranifesto
    06:01
    Caitlin Moran reads from her latest book Moranifesto
  8. Why was Shakespeare enchanted by the supernatural?
    02:39
    Why was Shakespeare enchanted by the supernatural?
  9. Schama Chameleon
    01:59
    Schama Chameleon
  10. Peter Carey: A reading from Amnesia
    02:22
    Peter Carey: A reading from Amnesia
  11. Michael Palin: How we named Monty Python
    03:11
    Michael Palin: How we named Monty Python

    Watch the whole talk on BBC iPlayer

  12. Malorie Blackman's life lesson
    02:33
    Malorie Blackman's life lesson
  13. Susan Calman on how Victoria Wood inspired her to become a comedian
    02:22
    Susan Calman on how Victoria Wood inspired her to become a comedian
  14. Why are Germans more welcoming to migrants?
    02:13
    Why are Germans more welcoming to migrants?
  15. Now playing
    Up next

Featured Collections

  • The best of Hay 2016
    The best of Hay 2016
    A selection of highlights from the literary festival in Wales.
  • Shakespeare at Hay Festival 2016
    Shakespeare at Hay Festival 2016
    An incredible collection of actors, authors, writers and more celebrating the Bard
  • Literature
    Literature
    Conversations with great novelists at the 2016 Hay Festival.
  • Kids' corner
    Kids' corner
    Children's authors and illustrators at the 2016 Hay Festival.
  • Science, history and ideas
    Science, history and ideas
    The best thinkers at the 2016 Hay Festival, on everything from philosophy to feminism.
  • Film, television and music
    Film, television and music
    Directors, actors, TV personalities and singers - the best from the 2016 Hay Festival.

Act Videos

  • Andrew Davies
  • Baaba Maal
  • Ben Miller
  • Billy Bragg
  • Caitlin Moran
  • Chris Hoy
  • Chris Packham
  • Claire Harman
  • David Gilmour and Polly Samson
  • David Mitchell
  • Edmund de Waal
  • Edna O'Brien
  • Eleanor Tomlinson, Karen Thrussell and Debbie Horsfield
  • Fay Weldon
  • George Monbiot
  • Germaine Greer
  • Gregory Doran
  • Imtiaz Dharker and Gillian Clarke
  • James Shapiro
  • Jeanette Winterson on The Gap of Time
  • Jeanette Winterson: Shakespeare 400
  • Joan Bakewell
  • Jonathan Bate
  • Jonathan Dimbleby
  • Julian Clary and David Roberts
  • Lionel Shriver
  • Malorie Blackman
  • Marlon James
  • Maxine Peake and Paapa Essiedu
  • Michael Morpurgo
  • Michael Palin
  • Neil MacGregor and Richard J Evans
  • Paul Mason
  • Peter Carey
  • Ruby Wax
  • Russell T Davies and Maxine Peake
  • Salman Rushdie
  • Sam Mendes
  • Sarah Millican and Hannah Dunleavy
  • Simon Schama
  • Stephen Frears
  • Steve Silberman
  • Susan Calman
  • Thomas Keneally on Napoleon's Last Island
  • Thomas Keneally on Schindler's Ark
  • Yanis Varoufakis
  • Cymraeg
  • Gàidhlig
  • Gaeilge

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