Inside Putin’s Russia — Dispatches from Jana Bakunina

Russian-born journalist Jana Bakunina returns to Yekaterinburg to take the measure of a nation at war. In The Good Russian: In Search of a Nation’s Soul, she reports from a city booming on the surface yet morally numbed beneath — friends keeping their heads down, loyalists riding the wave, and a once-liberal father now fervently pro-Putin. This is a clear-eyed dispatch from inside the machine: how fear works, how consent is manufactured, and what hope remains.

Expect a rigorous, unsentimental conversation touching on Putin, Alexei Navalny and his legacy, the war in Ukraine, propaganda and disinformation, censorship and surveillance, mobilisation and life under sanctions, exile and the Russian diaspora — and the prospects for dissent.

Early acclaim is strong — “important and necessary” (Mishal Husain), “unique and necessary” for taking us inside wartime Russia (Simon Kuper), and “a fine and brave book” (Luke Harding). Audience Q&A and signing to follow.

This event replaces John Sweeney, who can sadly no longer make it. All existing tickets remain valid.

This event will be chaired by Michael Shipster, CMG OBE. Michael is a retired British diplomat and company director. After graduating from Oxford University he worked in Botswana as an economist before joining the British Foreign Office. During a 30-year career, his overseas postings included the Soviet Union during the Cold War, India, South Africa, and the USA. He now runs his own consultancy company, which offers pro bono advice to British charities operating in challenging overseas environments. He continues to take a close interest in Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union, especially Ukraine.

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Folkestone Book Festival is our annual celebration of books, bold ideas and the power of storytelling – by the sea. Curated by award-winning author and journalist Sophie Haydock (The Flames, Madame Matisse), this year’s programme features more than 50 events over 11 days, bringing together world-class writers, radical thinkers and unforgettable conversations – all inspired by Folkestone’s spirit of enabling creativity and transformative change.

We want the festival to be for everyone. That’s why we’ve introduced a £5 ticket – a no-questions-asked option for anyone who might be struggling to afford events.

And if you’re planning to come to more than a handful of events, don’t miss our great-value Festival Pass, which gives you access to all events (excluding classes, which need to be booked separately) for just £140.

There’s so much to discover – from headline talks to intimate workshops, big ideas to local voices. Check out the full programme, including our much-loved Local Talent Showcase and a new series of Creative Writing Workshops designed to spark your imagination.

We delighted that our onsite bookseller this year is Waterstones Folkestone.

We thank our major sponsor Saga and supporting sponsors Eurotunnel, Holiday Extras and Friends of the Folkestone Book Festival along with our Education Partner, Canterbury Christ Church University for making this year's festival possible. Creative Folkestone is also supported by Arts Council England, Folkestone and Hythe District Council and The Roger De Haan Charitable Trust.