The Welwyn Hatfield Times has teamed up with Maher The Bookseller and Hatfield House in bringing you a series of literary dinners over the coming months and years.

The first literary dinner will feature William Shawcross who will be talking about his new book Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.

Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, was a regular visitor to Hatfield House and was a great friend of the 5th Marquess of Salisbury – who in turn was a regular visitor to Balmoral.

The dinner will be held in the stunning Old Palace at Hatfield House on Saturday, November 21, at 7pm.

Guests will be treated to a drinks reception followed by a three-course dinner. Following this Mr Shawcross will talk about, answer questions and sign copies of his book.

Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother is the first official Royal biography to be published for 19 years. The book covers her life in full – with much detail drawn from her private correspondence and other hitherto unpublished material from the Royal Archives.

William Shawcross is a bestselling author.

In 1995 he wrote the BBC television series Monarchy and, in 2002, the BBC series and book, Queen and Country, which celebrated the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.

Co-incidentally he was a school friend of the current, 7th, Marquess of Salisbury.

Mahers, Hatfield House and the WHT are thrilled to launch our series of literary dinners with such an auspicious book – and feel this superb venue is a fitting backdrop – particularly emphasising the strong connection that Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother had with Hatfield House.

Tickets for this event cost �39 each.

Further details can be obtained from Maher The Bookseller in the Howard Centre or from Hatfield House.

To book tickets, please call 01707 287010 or visit www.hatfield-house.co.uk

Details of further events will be announced in the near future.

The WHT will have a competition to win tickets for the William Shawcross dinner. Watch out over the next couple of weeks for details.