The Farnham and District Museum Society is launching two books at Waterstones in Lion and Lamb Yard on August 19 from 7pm to 8pm.

The first is a biography of George Sturt written by Valerie Lewis entitled A Man of Parts – George Sturt, Writer of Farnham and The Bourne.

George Sturt, though less well known than William Cobbett, was in his way as fine a writer.

His experience of his father’s wheelwright’s business taught him a great respect for craftsmanship. Combined with his understanding of rural life, it made him a great advocate for those who lived by it in the face of enclosure and mechanisation.

The society believes this book is the first to cover Sturt’s life and is “an important addition to Farnham scholarship”.

The second book is a history of Farnham called Farnham in History, written by Roy Waight.

When Roy researched the history of Farnham Castle he amassed a great deal of information gleaned from the work done by the Farnham and District Museum Society and its forebears going back to 1965.

Based on this, and other, secondary material, he has sought to place the history of Farnham in a wider context. His book is dedicated to the many members of the society who have worked on the subject of Farnham’s history.

Copies of the two books will be available at the launch, where refreshments will be provided, at a discount. The Sturt book will cost £9.99 and the history book £14.99.

They will subsequently be available from Waterstones at £12.99 for the Sturt book and £19.99 for the history book.