Two distinguished Jewish literary figures led a series of vibrant discussions at last weekend’s fifth annual Cliveden Literary Festival.

The festival’s vice-chairman, Simon Sebag Montefiore, headed a debate on what the history of the world can inform us about its future, along with a pertinent discussion on whether Russian President Vladimir Putin would politically survive his “bloody gamble” in Ukraine.

He quizzed speakers on how the “tyrannical tsar” could fall from power, with UCL political scientist Mark Galeotti suggesting that the Russian system “needs Putin to die before it moves on”.

Jonathan Freedland - credit - clear for UK (002)

Journalist and author Jonathan Freedland (Philippa Gedge)

And in conversation with JC Editor Jake Wallis Simons, Jonathan Freedland discussed his best-selling book The Escape Artist, shortlisted for the £50,000 Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction.

Mr Sebag Montefiore’s Cambridge contemporary, Professor Andrew Roberts, held a lively conversation with Simon Heffer, editor of three unexpurgated volumes of diaries by the interwar political mischief-maker Henry “Chips” Channon.

They reflected on the nature of the arch-appeaser’s antisemitism, with Professsor Heffer suggesting that it was partly an attempt to mirror the attitudes of the British aristocracy Channon desperately aspired to join.