Jacobson, Suttie and Roden to feature at Jewish Book Week

Authors including Howard Jacobson (pictured), novelist and comedian Isy Suttie and food writer Claudia Roden are among the line-up for Jewish Book Week, which returns as an in-person event next year.

The first of more than 70 talks, performances and panels taking place at the 70th anniversary edition will be held at London's Kings Place. It will run from 26th February to 6th March, featuring 14 online events in addition to the in-person programme. 

Events announced and now on sale include Booker-winner Jacobson launching his memoir Mother’s Boy (Vintage) in conversation with "Newsnight" anchor and author Emily Maitlis, and Roden (pictured right) discussing her career and latest cookbook, Med (Ebury), with author, journalist and podcaster Jay Rayner. "Peep Show" star Suttie will discuss her debut novel, while Harvard professor emerita Ruth Wisse, Canada’s former leader of the opposition Michael Ignatieff, New York Times bestseller Amy Bloom and historians Christopher Andrew and Helen Fry will also speak at various events. 

The festival will open with the latest in a series of specially commissioned staged readings directed by Tristram Powell ("Talking Heads") and produced by Honor Borwick ("The Favourite"). 

 A "Ridley Road" panel will look at the BBC1 series, the novel it was adapted from and the anti-fascist 62 Group that inspired it. World-renowned cellist Steven Isserlis will be joined by actor Dame Janet Suzman and journalist James Jolly for an evening of conversation and performances around Bach. Natalie Livingstone will provide an insight into the unknown half of one of the world’s most famous families in Women of Rothschild (John Murray Press), while Jewish Theater of New York founder Tuvia Tenenbaum will be in conversation with "Countdown" presenter Rachel Riley. 

Commenting on the programme revealed so far, Jewish Book Week director Claudia Rubenstein said: “We are so excited to be back in-person for our 70th anniversary in the wonderful setting of Kings Place, as well as continuing our relationship with our online audience. We can’t wait to share the full line-up in January to go alongside these 12 brilliant events announced today.” 

More details about events will be announced in the new year.