There are fewer than 5000 people who can genuinely claim to be members of the British aristocracy, and yet they loom large in the popular consciousness. We're fascinated by their houses and estates, their lives and loves, their foibles and eccentricities. And we entertain the strong suspicion that, while they may be fellow citizens, they are very far from being People Like Us. In Heirs and Graces Eleanor Doughty draws on her unparalleled access to a bewildering range of dukes, duchesses, earls and others to create a vivid picture of who they are and how they tick. En route she traces their progress from a post-war era when they and their like were described by one future Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer as 'selfish, depraved, dissolute and decadent' to their diverse current roles as guardians of vast ancestral mansions, farmers, financiers and much else beside. She looks at key rites of passage, from cradle, via boarding school to grave. And she tells stories of their ups and downs, and of the doings of the heroes and villains who fill their ranks.

Eleanor Doughty began her career in journalism at the Daily Telegraph, before going freelance to focus on writing and working at the i newspaper as deputy comment editor. She has written the 'Great Estates' column in the Telegraph since 2017 and specialises in writing about the moneyed and titled classes, in particular country houses and their owners, as well as related pursuits. Her writing appears in the Financial Times, the Spectator, Country Life, The Times and Sunday Times, The Field, and many other publications. When she is not writing, she can be found either on or near a horse, or out with her cocker spaniel.

Purchase your own copy for only £12.27 on Blackwells: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/9781804941522?a_aid=prh

From 5.50pm, Vikki Jenner, our host for this evening, will begin the evening by exploring All Saints' Church, Kedleston in Derbyshire: https://www.visitchurches.org.uk/visit/our-churches/all-saints-church-kedleston-derbyshire

Our churches cost on average £2,500 per year to keep them clean, carry out conservation work, conduct maintenance checks, and ensure they are in a safe condition for visitors to enjoy. Please help us to keep our churches open by donating a gift of £5 or £10. You can donate quickly and easily to any of the churches mentioned today by texting the numbers below or visiting our donation page. Your generous donation will help us to protect a beautiful part of local and national heritage.