Matthew Kneale at Cheltenham Literature Festival

In conversation with his talented mother, the children’s author and illustrator Judith Kerr, author Matthew Kneale talk with Alex O’Connell of The Times about the inspirations for their work, emigration, creating a home in another country and their highly creative family.

Judith Kerr is the creator of the Mog books and The Tiger Who Came to Tea. Matthew Kneale is best known for his novel English Passengers, which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and which won the Whitbread Book of the Year Award.

Kneale’s newest book, Rome: A History in Seven Sackings, explores the fascinating history of the city of Rome, seen through the eyes of its most significant sackings, from the Gauls to the Nazis and everything in between.