What’s On: North East Literature and Book Events in October 2019

For most people, October means autumn leaves, Halloween costumes, and shorter days. For book lovers in the North East, October means three major literary festivals, hundreds of authors coming to the region, and not enough time to pack everything in. This month's roundup of book events happening in Durham, Newcastle, Teesside, Sunderland and around the...

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Scotland, Spitfires, Secrets: Review of Kirsty Wark’s The House by the Loch at Durham Book Festival

Kirsty Wark is often seen on our screens fronting Newsnight, a programme driven by serious factual reporting, but readers know that Wark is not averse to making things up, too, as the author of two works of fiction with a third in the offing. Hannah Piercy was at Durham Book Festival to hear how she...

Shoestring Press Poetry Reading (17th October)

Everyone is welcome to this Durham Book Festival Fringe event, featuring three brilliant poets who have collectively published thirteen full-length collections, many with Shoestring Press. When: 17th October, 17.00-18.00 Where: St Chad's College Chapel Tickets: Free and unticketed. Open to all. Carole Coates Carole Coates was a late starter in poetry, having spent many years...

Written in Water: 200 Years of John Keats’ Odes (Poetry Reading and Music, 15th October)

See in the autumn and mark the 200th Anniversary of John Keats' 1819 Odes at a free evening of poetry and music. When: 15th October, 17.00-18.00 Where: St Chad's College Chapel Tickets: Free and unticketed. Open to all. This joint event between the Centre for Poetry and Poetics and Durham University English Literature Society will...

Open House: In Conversation with Sunjeev Sahota

"I'm not a writer with a strong sense of place", says Sunjeev Sahota. Still, it's fantastic to have Sunjeev arrive here in Durham, as he becomes an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing in our Department. We got to know a bit more about the Booker-nominated novelist, before he introduces himself and his work at a...

Resistance and Repetitive Beats: Review of Dave Randall’s Sound System at Durham Book Festival

From the Devil's Interval to rave to grime, music has always provided more than just a soundtrack to political events - it has actually changed their course. Martin Gleghorn is galvanised by Dave Randall, who appeared at a Durham Book Festival fringe event organised by People's Bookshop. Culture is a political battleground: it always has...