Lucy Hughes-Hallett: The Scapegoat

Sunday 17 November, 12.30 - 1.30pm, QUAD Derby

From the winner of the Baillie Gifford Prize, and numerous other awards, for The Pike, Lucy’s latest book, The Scapegoat, is the extraordinary story of the meteoric rise and fall of George Villiers, the first Duke of Buckingham.

As King James I’s favourite, Buckingham was also his confidant, gatekeeper, right-hand man and lover. When Charles I succeeded James, he was similarly enthralled and made Buckingham his best friend and mentor. A dazzling figure on horseback and a skilful player of the political game, Buckingham turned the influence his beauty gave him into immense wealth and power becoming one of the most flamboyant and enigmatic Englishmen at the heart of royal and political life.

Lucy transports us into a courtly world of masques and dancing, exquisite clothes, the art of Rubens and Van Dyck, gender-fluidity, same-sex desire and appallingly rudimentary medicine. Falling from grace spectacularly, Buckingham came to represent everything that was wrong with the country.

This event will be filmed and made available as a digital recording after the Festival. For more information please click here.

Please note that we anticipate that parking will be unavailable at the Assembly Rooms car park as demolition work will have started by November. Alternative parking is available on streets around the Cathedral area and in other public car parks including Chapel Street and Bold Lane.