IAN McEwan will join a host of other influential writers at this year’s literary festival at Cliveden House in October.

The event takes place on the National Trust-owned grounds in Taplow, one of the most scandalous estates in British aristocratic history.

In 1961 the house was central to a large political rift, with the then-Secretary of State John Profumo attending a Cliveden party and meeting now infamous London call-girl, Christine Keeler. One year later and as rumours coursed around society’s upper circles, allegations that Keeler was passing information to the Soviet attaché and had used Profumo to gather secrets on Britain’s nuclear capability hit the press.

With this not only extraordinary but unique history, the 350-year-old building boasts a political heritage as well as a literary one. Over its illustrious history it has hosted and inspired the likes of Alexander Pope, George Bernard Shaw, Jonathan Swift and Lord Tennyson.

Cliveden will be home for the weekend for a variety of respected authors who will be speaking at the event, both about their work but also to inspire other budding writers.

These include historians Lady Antonia Fraser, Simon Sebag Montifiore, Bettany Hughes, novelists Sebastian Faulks, Robert Harris, Ian McEwan and Howard Jacobson and author Frances Osborne.

Also in attendance will be the likes of Nick Cullinan, director of the National Portrait Gallery, and Hannah Rothschild, chair at the National Gallery.

The aim of the festival is to both celebrate the past of the house and continue the tradition, keeping it as an inspiring place for literary lovers for years to come.

A full programme of events with all authors taking part as well as talks, workshops and salons, will be announced in June 2017, when tickets will go on sale. To find out more, click here.