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Philip will introduce Malcolm the stoat

Leading novelists and non-fiction writers such as Margaret Atwood Andrea Levy and Sebastian Junger talk about their new work.

There's also Julia Hobsbawm on integrity public relations; Pankaj Mishra on South Asia and India; James Lovelock on Gaia; Tariq Ramadan on multiculturalism; Geoff Mulgan on good and bad government; Geoff Dyer on photography; Lewis Wolpert on belief; Roy Hattersley on the Edwardians; Lord Smith on the future of cultural leadership and Charles Handy on his life and work.

In addition there are also free sessions especially for children.

Bestselling author Philip Ardagh will talk about Brunel, wonderful inventions, an affection for the Victorians and a stuffed stoat called Malcolm, and Amanda MitchinsonÌý will talk about researching her children's biography of Brunel.

The sessions form part of the celebrations throughout 2006 which mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

Philip is the bestselling author of more than 60 books including the Eddie Dickens series and Unlikely Exploits.

Biographer Amanda Mitchinson will be taking part in two sessions in which she will talk about what she learned when researching and writing her recent children's biography of Brunel. All present will get a free copy of Amanda's book to keep.