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Dr Martin Johnes is a historian of music, pop culture, personal politics and personal taste and has turned his pen to texts covering everything from this history of Wales to Christmas, football and baldness.

In his talk, the author of Wales Since 1939 sheds a light on the art of making statistics and figures worth reading and the rights and wrongs of historical perspective.

In this series of The Essay, recorded in front of an audience at the 2017 Hay Festival, five writers offer a personal guide to 'how to write a book'. Where do their ideas come from? Do they stick to a regular writing plan? Are there times when they just want to give up? Join them as they dispel some of the myths and share some of the secrets of getting to the final page.

The writers in the series include the new director of the Royal Institution and expert on ageing Sarah Harper, the international lawyer Philippe Sands, novelist Scarlett Thomas and translator Daniel Hahn.

Part of Radio 3's week-long residency at the Hay Festival, with programmes CD Review, Lunchtime Concert, In Tune, Free Thinking, The Verb and World on 3 all broadcasting from the festival.