Hillary Rodham Clinton joins Hay Festival line-up

Former US Secretary of State turned thriller writer Hillary Rodham Clinton has been added to the Hay Festival line-up.

The former First Lady will be in conversation with lawyer Helena Kennedy on 2nd June as part of the festival’s Women & Power series. 

Clinton, who has written eight books, is the first woman in US history to become the presidential nominee of a major political party. Last year she released political thriller State of Terror (Macmillan) which she co-wrote with Louise Penny.

Hay Festival international director Cristina Fuentes La Roche said: “We’re honoured to welcome Hillary Rodham Clinton to Hay Festival this spring, joining a vibrant programme to imagine the world anew. It’s been 35 years since writers and readers started sharing their stories together in our Festival tents and we have never needed these stories more urgently. Join us.”

Hay is returning for its first in-person event since 2019 this year and runs from 26th May to 5th June. This year’s event features more than 600 writers, thinkers and performers in more than 500 in-person events over 11 days. 

Previously announced authors taking part include Nobel winner Abdulrazak Gurnah, Booker winners Damon Galgut, Bernardine Evaristo, Julian Barnes, and Howard Jacobson, Monica Ali, Rose Tremain, Elif Shafak andDeborah Levy.

Fundraising will take place in aid of the Disasters Emergency Committee’s Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal via the festival’s cup return recycling points along with proceeds from a special section of the festival bookshop dedicated to Ukrainian literature.

Tickets to the event are on sale now to Friends of Hay Festival online or on 01497 822 629. Public booking opens on 22nd April.