Nowzad's very own Pen will be talking with fellow Claret Press author Mark Blackburn about Operation Ark, and Mark will discuss his book; 'Final Approach', at the Sturminster Literary Festival on the 6th June!

About Operation Ark

67 People. 171 Animals. Getting out was only half the battle. It’s August 2021. The Taliban invaded Kabul. The British Government was “Missing in Action”.The evacuation was disastrous, shambolic and deadly. Pen Farthing refused to abandon his charity’s staff or rescue animals. Operation Ark was born. He was branded a villain who valued “pets over people”, blamed for deserting Afghans, accused of risking British soldiers – nothing could be further from the truth.

About Final Approach

‘Final Approach’ is part-memoir, part-travelogue, an insight into a Sunday Times Rich List family in turmoil; wealth brings privilege and pleasure but also pain and misery. Each chapter lands on a particular airport, and its significance to the family story. From each runway we take off, uncertain of our destination. ‘Final Approach’ is essential reading for aviation enthusiasts, but its reach goes far beyond that as the reader takes flight. The young plane spotter dreams of being with his father on the wistful planes flying over his hellish boarding school and ends up a passenger on business jets to all corners of the world (as well as the hidden corners of his father’s secret life). It all comes crashing down, and not just in his dreams.

You can purchase tickets for this one-off event here :)