


Join earth experts for a knowledge-rich evening at Heckfield Place in Berkshire this May, with conversations based upon the profound transformations taking place in the natural world
Taking place on 23 May 2024, guests are invited to join best-selling author and historian Peter Frankopan along with scientist, writer and broadcaster Adam Rutherford for a fascinating evening at Heckfield Place on all things climate change.
The two experts will speak about the history of the planet since the Big Bang, explaining how climate and the natural world have shaped human history and how and why our species has in turn sought to transform the world around us.
Covering everything from the civilisations of Mesopotamia to the Roman empire, from the age of European empires to CIA assessments about climatic shifts in the 1970s, Peter will outline how it has never been more important to learn lessons from the past.
This wide-raining discussion will consider how the world is changing rapidly around us – from shifts in global powers to new technologies, conflict, migration and more. Conversations will centre upon the profound transformations taking place in the natural world, many related to global warming, but also as a result of our lifestyle choices.
About the speakers

Peter Frankopan is Professor of Global History at Oxford University. His book, The Silk Roads: A New History of the World was a New York Times Bestseller, topping the Non-Fiction charts all around the world, including in India, China and the UK where it stayed in the Top 10 for nine months.
In 2018, it was named as one of the 25 most important books translated into Chinese over the last 40 years, along with The Great Gatsby and Pride and Prejudice. Daily Telegraph History Book of the Year, it was named as a Sunday Times Book of the Decade (2010-20).
Peter’s most recent book is The Earth Transformed: an Untold History was named The Times History Book of the Year 2023, and was a Financial Times, Guardian/Observer, Independent, BBC History, New Yorker, Frontline (The Hindu), New Zealand Herald Book of the Year – and a bestseller in the UK, Australia, Netherlands, Canada, India, Indonesia and Germany.

Dr Adam Rutherford is a scientist, writer and broadcaster. He is a lecturer at UCL in Genetics and Society, and is the presenter of several award-winning series and programmes for the BBC, including Radio 4’s Start the Week, The Curious Cases of Rutherford & Fry. He’s lost count of how many books he’s written, but some of them are A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived, How to Argue With a Racist, and most recently a children’s book Where Are You Really From
Make it happen
When: 23 May 2024
Wallet: Event tickets start from £50 per person and include a welcome drink and lecture by Peter with the option to add a Q+A discussion and intimate group dinner hosted by Peter and Adam to continue the discussions for a ticket price of £155 (talk and welcome drink inclusive). Dinner includes three courses, an additional welcome drink and wine. Guests staying overnight and attending the talk will be eligible for a complimentary room upgrade subject to availability. Rates at Heckfield Place start from £550 per night, based on two sharing and inclusive of breakfast.
How: Tickets available via eventbrite.co.uk
Where: Heckfield Pl, Heckfield, Hook RG27 0LD