John Simpson has been reporting for the BBC for more than five decades.
He’s been tortured, was the victim of a faux execution and has reported while under fire. All of that experience gave him the context for his second novel, Our Friends in Beijing.
Telling the story of Jon Swift (loosely based on the author himself), Our Friends in Beijing settles some scores, John admits!
Following his appearance at Henley Literary Festival, John joined Laithwaites’ Grant Hedley for a glass of wine and a chat about his career.
We poured him a glass of Domaine des Tourelles Rouge du Liban, made in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, an area John is now stranger to.
You can watch our interview with Iain below and stay tuned for more author videos from The Wine Down with Laithwaites including Elizabeth Day, Iain MacGregor, Candice Brathwaite and Sir Vince Cable.
Laithwaites is proud to be sponsoring Henley Literary Festival for a tenth consecutive year.
