HistFest 2026: Pharaohs & Empresses with Sofia Robleda and Saara El-Arifi and

This event, originally titled ‘Pharaohs & Empresses: Rewriting the Stories of Cleopatra and Isabel Moctezuma’, took place on 18 April 2026. The information below is correct as of the publication date.

Can historical fiction reshape our understanding of the past? Join bestselling authors Saara El-Arifi and Sofia Robleda for a fascinating journey into the past through remarkable historical women. El-Arifi discussed her novel Cleopatra, a vivid reimagining of an iconic ruler, while Robleda presented The Other Moctezuma Girls, which centres voices often left out of traditional histories. Together with HistFest director Rebecca Rideal, they explored how fiction can challenge dominant narratives and invite us to rethink history.

This event took place as part of HistFest 2026 and was supported by Jules Verne Ltd.

About HistFest:

HistFest is a dynamic history festival that celebrates the brightest and the best in the world of history over an exciting weekend of talks, discussions, performance and music.

To join more online and in person events visit our website: https://events.bl.uk/

Discover more of our past events at our playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVRvouzCZmFeI-PSlsaLHzJwtEkKshATx&si=94-9DoaNCNTFAyQc

Check us out on Instagram: https://instagram.com/britishlibrary_events

Speaker Bios:

Sofia Robleda is a Mexican writer. She spent her childhood and adolescence in Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Singapore. She completed her undergraduate and doctorate degrees in psychology at the University of Queensland, in Australia. Her debut historical fiction novel, Daughter of Fire, was an Amazon First Reads and Editor's Pick for July 2024 and hit the top 100 Kindle bestselling list. Her latest novel, The Other Moctezuma Girls, was published in 2026.

Saara El-Arifi is a No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author of fantasy and historical fiction. After a decade of working in marketing and communications, she returned to academia to complete a master's degree in African studies specialising in Cleopatra's myth and her impact on Black women. Her fiction novels are inspired by West African and Arabian mythology, including the Ending Fire and Faebound trilogies. Her most recent novel, Cleopatra, was published in 2026.

Rebecca Rideal is a historian, award-winning podcast and TV producer, and the author of 1666: Plague, War and Hellfire. A fellow of the Royal Historical Society, Rebecca writes regularly for press and contributes to radio and television documentaries. She is the founder of the London-based history festival, HistFest, and tutors at the University of Oxford's Department for Continuing Education.

The British Library is a charity. Your support helps us open up a world of knowledge and inspiration for everyone. Donate today: https://support.bl.uk/Donate