The University of Birmingham’s annual festival of the written and spoken word returns to campus with a range of over 20 free workshops, panels, performances and author talks celebrating literary expressions of Birmingham, beauty, body positivity and multiculturalism.
Keep up to date on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages under Book to the Future UOB.
19-20 October 2018
- Date
- Friday 19 October 2018 (11:00-12:00)
- Description
- In this talk in the Cadbury Research Library, discover the cases, both well-known and obscure, of leading 19th century forensic scientist Alfred Swaine Taylor (1806-1880). The talk is led by Helen Barrell, the author of Alfred's first full-length biography.
- Date
- Friday 19 October 2018 (12:00-13:00)
- Description
- Simon Fairbanks explains how you can self-publish your own novel in both paperback and electronic formats, and instantly start profiting from your writing.
- Date
- Friday 19 October 2018 (13:00-14:00)
- Description
- *Fully booked* Join Martin Killeen, Head of Rare Books and Special Collections Engagement at the Cadbury Research Library, to discover the archives on John Baskerville (1706 – 1775), who designed and produced one of the world's most admired and celebrated type faces.
- Date
- Friday 19 October 2018 (14:00-15:00)
- Description
- Join Professor John Holmes for a fascinating talk on the Pre-Raphaelites and their relationship with Science.
- Date
- Friday 19 October 2018 (15:15-16:15)
- Description
- Democracy is under threat. Hear Professor Nic Cheeseman, who has has spent the last decade watching the struggle for democracy first-hand, explain why democracy is in decline, and what can be done about it.
- Date
- Friday 19 October 2018 (16:30-17:30)
- Description
- An expert panel discuss Diversity in Publishing, discussed by Samantha Lyster, Mireille Harper Iram Satti, Obinna Chukwu, Andrew Isabirye. All UOB graduates, they will be sharing their stories, advice, and discussing the need for diversity and inclusion for all in the industry.
- Date
- Friday 19 October 2018 (17:00-19:00)
- Description
- A poetry workshop with Robert Harper and Writers Bloc Society that looks at how breath plays a vital part in delivering your poem to the reader via the page.
- Date
- Friday 19 October 2018 (18:00-19:30)
- Description
- *Fully booked* Blogging sensations Alice Liveing, Hannah Witton and Emma Conway will be sharing their stories, successes and tips on our blogging panel. If you want to hear from the best in blogging, you can't miss this.
- Date
- Saturday 20 October 2018 (10:30-12:30)
- Description
- Tom Hicks, the artist behind @BlackCountryType, the popular instagram account that posts images of typefaces in Birmingham and surrounding areas, leads a walking tour. Bring along a camera or camera phone.
- Date
- Saturday 20 October 2018 (10:45-11:45)
- Description
- Deborah Longworth leads a discussion on how popular Romance fiction, like the prolific Mills and Boon, has developed in the modern day.
- Date
- Saturday 20 October 2018 (11:00-14:00)
- Description
- Live Art Society at the University of Birmingham presents - "A Uniquely Portable Magic", an installation fusing theatre, photography, art and writing to create a walk-through wonderland about the magic of reading and novels. In aid of the charity United through Reading.
- Date
- Saturday 20 October 2018 (13:00-14:30)
- Description
- Join panellists that work or study at the University of Birmingham for an exploration of why and how we go about decolonising the curriculum, and hear their own experiences. Lily Gibbs will chair the panel, and is joined by Yasmina Nuny, Paul Jackson, Rhianna Kerr, Jovia Salifu and Daniel Stone.
- Date
- Saturday 20 October 2018 (13:30-16:00)
- Description
- Explore what Birmingham means to you in this creative writing session with Jacqui Rowe at the Barber Institute.
- Date
- Saturday 20 October 2018 (15:00-16:00)
- Description
- Sensational spoken word from the best of Birmingham's poets, including Nyanda Foday, Birmingham's 11th Young Poet Laureate and acclaimed author and UOB academic Luke Kennard.
- Date
- Saturday 20 October 2018 (15:15-16:15)
- Description
- *Fully booked* Join us at the beautiful Winterbourne House and Garden for a talk and tour of their current exhibition.
- Date
- Saturday 20 October 2018 (16:00-17:00)
- Description
- University alumna Valeria Vescina delivers a talk on Multilingualism and Multiculturalism, based on her critically acclaimed debut novel That Summer in Puglia, followed by a question and answer session.
- Date
- Saturday 20 October 2018 (17:30-18:30)
- Description
- Have you ever felt a pressure to be beautiful? Ever wondered why beauty is valued so highly in today's society? Professor Heather Widdows unpacks beauty standards and the pressure to conform, following the release of her illuminating book 'Perfect Me'.
Also in 'Book to the Future'