MLF Chapter & Verse
The Manchester Literature Festival Blog
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‘Between bestiality and boredom’: Brett Anderson In Conversation
March 30, 2018
The Dancehouse is packed with over 400 fans. We’re here to see Brett Anderson, lead singer of Suede, talk about his memoir Coal Black Mornings. He’s interviewed by Adelle Stripe, author of Black Teeth and a Brilliant Smile, who’s also a huge fan of the band and Brett. Adelle begins by asking him about […]
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Review: ‘I was called to this work.’ Patrisse Khan-Cullors
March 22, 2018
Manchester Central Library is packed on a cold, March evening with one of the most varied audiences I’ve been part of at a literary event. We’re here to listen to Patrisse Khan-Cullors, co-founder of Black Lives Matter and co-author of the book When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir. She’s […]
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Review: The Things I Would Tell You
November 16, 2017
Maryam Hessavi reviews our event with writers from the anthology performing their work Hosted by award-winning Sabrina Mahfouz, The Things I Would Tell You event offered insights, experiences and performance from Asma Elbadawi, Nafeesa Hamid and Hibaq Osman, who form part of the twenty-two strong compilation of writers self-identified as ‘British Muslim women’. Sabrina, who shares this […]
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Review: Refugee Tales II
November 16, 2017
Usma Malik enjoys an event with writers reading stories from the Refuge Tales II anthology. This is not an actual title of one of the short story collections that make up Comma Press’s Refugee Tales. It’s how I’ve synthesised the message of the stories. In fact, even the phrase ‘short story collection,’ may be slightly misleading. […]
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Review: Elif Shafak and Nadeem Aslam
November 16, 2017
Maryam Hessavi is inspired by our event with novelists Elif Shafak and Nadeem Aslam “Where to begin” – was the place at which Erica Wagner initiated the event, setting up the primary concerns and philosophical line of conversation that would formulate an intellectually invigorating and moving discussion between these two powerful writers, Elif Shafak and […]
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Review: Zaffar Kunial
November 16, 2017
Chad Campbell reports from our event with poet Zaffar Kunial, reading new work commissioned in response to the art of Raqib Shaw Poet Zaffar Kunial and painter Raqib Shaw share some common ground. Both have roots in Kashmir (Kunial through his father; Shaw by birth) and England (Kunial by birth; Shaw by virtue of having […]
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Review: Imtiaz Dharker
November 16, 2017
Namra Amir is impressed by a performance of MLF-commissioned work from poet Imtiaz Dharker at Manchester Art Gallery As the Manchester Literature Festival nears the end, I thought I couldn’t be further impressed or surprised by the events. Little did I know that Imtiaz Dharker’s collaboration with Manchester Art Gallery would stun me and revolutionise the […]
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Review: Shami Chakrabarti
November 16, 2017
Aoife Inman, MLF Digital Reporter, enjoys an inspiring event with Shami Chakrabarti The theatre is brimming. Such a packed venue is undoubtedly a product of recent events on the global political stage. The shock of the past year has engendered a surge in activism, especially amongst young people. Examining the audience, it is a […]
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Review: The Real Story presents Know Your Place
November 10, 2017
David Hartley reviews an evening of live essays on the working class experience presented by The Real Story and Dead Ink Books The title of this event, and the book it launches, makes a clear demand of us: not to reflect on our place, not to consider it, but to know it. Taken literally, we […]
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Review: Kamila Shamsie
November 10, 2017
MLF Blogger Abi Hynes enjoys a spirited conversation between authors Kamila Shamsie and Jeanette Winterson at this year’s Festival Kamila Shamsie’s latest novel, Home Fire, is a contemporary take on Sophocles’ Antigone, which takes the guts of the story – the choice between state and family; the lengths we might go to for love and […]