Hundreds of history buffs will descend on Malmesbury this weekend for one of the country’s biggest literary events of its kind.

BBC History Magazine’s four-day festival, which begins on Thursday afternoon, already looks like being a major success with around a dozen events having sold out.

Leading authors specialising in a wide range of historical topics will appear at venues ranging from Malmesbury Abbey and the town hall to the Old Bell Hotel and a marquee that has been set up in the abbey’s Cloister Gardens.

BBC History Magazine publisher Dave Musgrove said: “It looks like it’s going to be a lot of fun and a great four days. We have sold quite a few tickets and several of the events have sold out.”

A mix of residents and people travelling from London and as far as Portland, USA, will attend.

The organisers last year chose Malmesbury to host its inaugural festival as the town, the country’s oldest borough, is steeped in history.

Mr Musgrove said: “There’s so much history there; the abbey, the burial place of Athelstan (grandson of Alfred the Great), the story of the monk who tried to fly from the abbey roof.

“There are some great historic stories in Malmesbury. There’s a real historic vibe to the town.

“Malmesbury has really embraced the festival.”

From Thursday until Sunday, nearly 40 top name historians will be speaking on subjects ranging from the French Resistance, Viking adventures and Britain’s Pagan Heritage to Richard III and myths and realities of the First World War.

The festival will begin Thursday with a presentation by former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Paddy Ashdown on The French Resistance and the Battle for the Vercors 1944. There are still some tickets left for this event, but Thursday evening’s double lecture by Tracy Borman and Hilary Mantel on the subject of Thomas Cromwell has sold out.

Also appearing will be Earl Spencer, the younger brother of Princess Diana, who is promoting his new book Killers of the King: The Men Who Dared to Execute Charles I.

BBC History Magazine will again be partnering with Malmesbury School to engage A-level historians students – “the next generation of historians” – who are being invited to meet and greet the speakers and introduce talks.

For the full line-up and further information on BBC History Magazine’s History Weekend, visit www.historyweekend.com