Book lovers are in for a treat when Bristol University's Department of English opens its doors to the public for a Readers’ Day on Saturday 10 June.
The novelists Tessa Hadley, Andrew Taylor and Diana Wynne Jones and the historian Tim Cole will be attending to talk about their work.
People taking part in the day will have an opportunity to be involved in a morning workshop, led by one of the department's tutors; a lunchtime panel, where all four authors will discuss their work; and an afternoon reading with one of the authors, with the chance to ask them questions. Tickets are priced at £20, which includes lunch and a copy of one of the books.
Tim Cole teaches in the University’s Department of Historical Studies. His book Selling the Holocaust: From Auschwitz to Schindler, How History is Bought, Packaged and Sold (Routledge, 1999) examines Anne Frank as well as other people and sites related to the Holocaust. He is current working on a new book, The Holocaust in Hungary: A History in Fragments which examines the multiple experiences of Hungarian Jews.
Tessa Hadley was born in Bristol and lives in Cardiff. She has written two novels, Accidents in the Home (Cape, 2002) and Everything Will Be All Right (Cape, 2004) and had short stories published in the New Yorker, Granta and The Guardian. A collection of her stories will be published in 2007. She also reviews for the London Review of Books and teaches at Bath Spa University.
Andrew Taylor has been a full-time writer since 1981 and has written over 20 books. He has been described by The Times as ‘one of Britain’s best writers of psychological suspense’. His novels include the Dougal and Lydmouth crime series. The American Boy was chosen for Richard and Judy’s book club. He lives in the Forest of Dean.
Diana Wynne Jones, who lives in Bristol, has written over 40 books. Charmed Life, the first book in the Chrestomanci series, won the 1977 Guardian Award for Children’s Books. In 1999, she won two major fantasy awards: the children’s section of the Mythopeic Award in the USA and the Karl Edward Wagner Award in the UK. Hayao Miyazaki’s animated film version of Howl’s Moving Castle was nominated for an Oscar in 2006.
Tom Sperlinger, Lifelong Learning Organiser for English, said: "If you enjoy reading, then you'll love Readers' Day . Last year’s event proved very popular and those who attended particularly enjoyed the opportunity it gave them to encounter well-known writers within a small, intimate group. We hope to repeat that success this year with another excellent line-up of authors, all of whom have links to Bristol and its region.”
The day, organised by the English Department’s Lifelong Learning Programme, will take place on Saturday 10 June, University of Bristol, Department of English, 3-5 Woodland Road, Bristol from 10 am to 3.30 pm.
Tickets are priced at £20 which includes lunch and a copy of one of the books (sent out in advance of the day).
For further information or to book a place please contact, Hilary Betts, tel 0117 928 8924, email hilary.betts@bristol.ac.uk or download a booking form.