The Dorchester Literary Festival is fast approaching on the 15th-22nd October - an opportunity to listen and meet some of the UK's best-selling authors covering diverse and fascinating topics.

Robert Harris will be at the festival discussing Act of Oblivion, Max Hastings with Abyss - the story of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and Ben Macintyre on Colditz.

There will also be a range of memoirs illuminating surprising lives: Antiques Roadshow expert Ronnie Archer-Morgan reveals his life story, as does Keith Brymer Jones of The Great Pottery Throw-down and Jackie Malton, the DCI whose life provided the inspiration for Lynda La Plante's Prime Suspect.

Highlighting the world of nature and animals is bushcraft and survival legend Ray Mears, teaching people how to reconnect with the wild in We Are Nature; Dave Goulson explains the world of insects in Silent Earth; Tim Birkhead shines a light on man's relationship with birds in Birds and Us, while Dogfather Graeme Hall gives sage advice on how best to look after a new family friend in Perfectly Imperfect Puppy.

A poster for Dorchester Literary Festival.

During the same week you can delve into the lives of the Queen and the Royal family with eminent royal commentators Robert Hardman and Hugo Vickers, or learn about Marine Commandos from Monty Halls; discover The Celts with Simon Jenkins; the life of artist John Constable with James Hamilton; Mary Seacole's story with Helen Rappaport, Miss Dior's significance with Justine Picardie, and Josephine Baker's life in espionage with Damien Lewis.

Tickets are on sale now and can be bought visit the festival website or Waterstones in Dorchester.

Ronnie Archer-Morgan from Antiques Roadshow will be at the festival.