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Antonia Senior & Piers Blofeld – Stalin’s Apostles and Master of Lies 

 

A thrilling exploration of The Cambridge Five and Anthony Blunt’s dark treachery. 

Five men, radicalised to communist ideology whilst at Cambridge in the 1930s: Anthony Blunt, Guy Burgess, John Cairncross, Donald Maclean and Kim Philby supplied the Soviets with UK and US intelligence for years until they were uncovered in 1951. Using recently declassified documents, historian and journalist Antonia Senior shines a light on their deception – and the reasons why they did it – whilst Piers Blofeld argues that Anthony Blunt specifically is one of the greatest spy-masters of all time, penetrating the very top of British society whilst flying under the radar. 

 

Chaired by Jacqui Hodgson

 

“Senior’s new book is impressive in its scope of ground-breaking research and depth of historical context…A powerful narrative.” –  HELEN FRY, author of THE WHITE LAD

“Utterly shocking. Blunt wasn’t just an arch-traitor. He was a callous mass-murderer. A war criminal no less….It is high time the truth was revealed. Blofeld’s book does just that. Bravo” Damien Lewis

 

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Booking Information

  • Priority Booking for Festival Friends opens at 08.00 on Friday 27th of February. Tickets go on general sale from Monday 2nd March.
  • Our concession tickets are available to Friends of the Festival, those on benefits and students.
  • Hearing loops are available for Theatre and Library events. Carers qualify for free ‘essential companion’ tickets. Wheelchair spaces are limited. In all cases, please call the Box Office on 01434 652477 to book or email: boxoffice@queenshall.co.uk.
  • Tickets cannot be refunded but can be exchanged for other Book Festival events.
  • All bookings are subject to a booking fee of £1.50 per transaction.

 

Back to 2026 programme 

Location

Theatre, Queen's Hall, Hexham

Date

26 Apr 2026

Time

4:45 pm - 5:45 pm

Cost

£12.50 / £10.50

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