TICKETS are selling like hot cakes for the fifth Chipping Campden Literature Festival which this year explores a War and Peace theme.

The festival which runs from Tuesday, May 6 to Sunday, May 11, celebrates the joy of reading, the art of writing, the beauty of books and the sharing of ideas.

And to mark a centenary since the outbreak of the First World War, the first evening is on the 'Catastrophe' of 1914 and the final evening ends in a besieged Paris in 1918.

In between there is events that touch on aspects of the five invasions of Britain such as The English Civil War, The Napoleonic Wars, Crimean War, pacificism and the Spanish Civil War.

Events include the history of the Women’s Institute, The English Civil War, the poetry of Ivor Gurney and Wilfred Owen, Tolstoy along with workshops on writing poetry and making art books.

Speakers include Owen Sheers reading extracts from his verse drama on the pity of the Afghan war, Pink Mist, Kate Williams, the social historian on BBC 2 series Restoration Home and award-winning novelist Helen Dunmore.

Vicky Bennett, one of the three artistic directors, said: “Tickets are flying out for our fifth independent Literature Festival in Chipping Campden.

"Our theme for 2014 is War and Peace, exploring conflict and resolution.

"In this centenary year of World War One our inaugural speaker is Sir Max Hastings. His BBC2 programme the ‘Necessary War’ was shown on February 25, and on May 6 he presents his latest book Catastrophe: Europe Goes To War 1914. "

To download a programme and booking forms visit campdenlitfest.co.uk.