Act of Oblivion: In conversation with Robert Harris

About

Join master storyteller, Robert Harris in conversation about his thrilling new novel, Act of Oblivion, the story of the biggest manhunt of the 17th century.

The year is 1660. Colonel Edward Whalley and his son-in-law, Colonel William Goffe, are crossing the Atlantic. They are on the run, wanted for the murder of Charles I. Under the provisions of the Act of Oblivion, they have been found guilty in absentia of high treason.

In London, Richard Nayler, secretary of the regicide committee of the Privy Council, is tasked with tracking down the fugitives. He'll stop at nothing until the two men are brought to justice. A reward hangs over their heads – for their capture, dead or alive.

Act of Oblivion is an epic journey across continents, and a chase like no other. Robert Harris will be discussing the historical inspiration for his novel in conversation with Neil Johnston, Head of early modern records at The National Archives.

This event is part of a season of events and activities accompanying our new exhibition, Treason: People, Power & Plot – opening Saturday 5 November, free and open to all. Find out more at nationalarchives.gov.uk/treason

Robert Harris is the author of 14 bestselling novels: the Cicero Trilogy - Imperium, Lustrum and Dictator - Fatherland, Enigma, Archangel, Pompeii, The Ghost, The Fear Index, An Officer and a Spy, which won four prizes including the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, Conclave, Munich, The Second Sleep and V2. His work has been translated into 40 languages and he is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature

This in conversation event will be followed by a live audience Q&A.

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