It is the lot of all telegenic historians that they will be compared with AJP Taylor, the late, great historian of the 20th century. David Starkey and Simon Schama may have occasionally assumed his mantle, but Niall Ferguson - who is here at Hay to talk about the 20th century and his new book and television series, The War of the World - is surely his true heir.

If Hay is that most English of festivals, then hearing John Julius Norwich talk about his "dear papa", the late Duff Cooper - statesman, ambassador, biographer, poet and bon viveur - is like drinking a G&T, listening to Radio 4 and complaining about the weather (in this case because it is stiflingly hot). Throw in a bobby on a bicycle and a vicar making tea for a village cricket team, and you get the picture.

"Writing is just the all-time best leisure activity," enthuses Geraldine McCaughrean. "It's free, you can go anywhere in the world, surround yourself with all the people you most want to have around you and make it turn out exactly how you want... It puts you on a par with God," she muses.