Manchester Literature Festival has announced a fresh trio of events for Spring including a special event for children to celebrate World Book Day.
Sebastian Barry is back to Manchester on 7 March to discuss his beautifully crafted new novel, Old God’s Time with Kit de Waal in a compelling conversation between two distinctive authors and passionate readers.
One of Ireland’s finest storytellers, Sebastian Barry is the author of Days Without End, A Thousand Moons, A Long Long Way and The Secret Scripture. The Laureate for Irish Fiction from 2018-2021, Sebastian is also twice winner of the Walter Scott Prize and the Costa Book of the Year. He will discuss his extraordinary writing and his powerful new tale of memory, love, mystery and reckoning with host Kit de Waal. Kit is the author of the novels My Name is Leon and The Trick to Time and the memoir Without Warning and Only Sometimes.
Ten years after winning The Booker Prize with her epic novel The Luminaries, New Zealand novelist Eleanor Catton returns with a spectacular new novel Birnam Wood. A brilliant psychological thriller, the novel draws on many of the biggest themes of the day from climate change, land-grabbing and surveillance technology to power, corruption and the super-rich. Eleanor Catton’s debut novel The Rehearsal won the Betty Trask Award and was longlisted for the Orange Prize.
Her second novel, The Luminaries, won the 2013 Booker Prize and became a global bestseller that was translated into 32 languages. Eleanor spent two years writing and researching her sweeping, historical novel about the New Zealand gold rush and adapted The Luminaries into a six-part television series for BBC2. She also wrote the screenplay for the 2020 film adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma. Hosted by writer Kate Feld on 21 March and presented in partnership with the Centre for New Writing and Creative Manchester.
To celebrate World Book Day on 2 March, the bestselling, multi award-winning children’s author and illustrator Rob Biddulph has created a very special free activity for Greater Manchester school children. Rob Biddulph presents The Blue-Footed Booby is a fun, interactive, online show based on his new book of the same name – a rollicking new rhyming tale of missing cakes and baking shenanigans. The red-footed boobies are the best bakers, but is it possible that a blue-footed booby is stealing the results of their efforts? Or is someone jumping to conclusions…? Schools can apply to receive the video plus educational resources in advance.
Ticket and booking information:
Sebastian Barry in Conversation with Kit de Waal
Tuesday 7 March 2023, 7pm
Central Library
Tickets £10/£8
MLF event page & booking link: https://bit.ly/40kkaYP
Eleanor Catton in Conversation
Tuesday 21 March 2023, 7pm
Waterstones Deansgate
Tickets £10/£8
MLF event page & booking link: https://bit.ly/3Jp8rSZ
Tickets go on general sale on Friday 3 February 2023.
Rob Biddulph presents The Blue-Footed Booby
2-31 March 2023
Online
MLF event page: https://bit.ly/3Rm52pH
