Literature Events in the North
Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature EditorReadings are springing up everywhere as the live literature and spoken word scene starts to defrost.
One of the longest-running live literature nights in town is Verbose, turning 10 in 2025 with a special party this month, while Elizabeth Gaskell’s House is also celebrating a decade since it opened, with a whole host of events live and an online season looking at the Victorian writer’s controversial novel Ruth. Also online, Carcanet’s events programme gets underway again, starting with poet Rebecca Watts talking about her new collection to Vona Groarke.
In real life, head to Manchester Poetry Library for a multilingual slam as part of International Mother Language Day plus a Manchester Writing School Alumni Showcase. Both are free. Meanwhile, Manchester Literature Festival is bringing Alan Hollinghurst to Central Library to cheer up January.
As February unfolds, some of our favourite Pennine regulars are back, including More Song and Poetry at the Dusty Miller, while Yorkshirewomen descend on our bookshops – Adelle Stripe, S J Bradley and Rachel Bower.
Finally, don’t forget to thumb through our Bookshops in Manchester Guide and pick up the new map from UNESCO Manchester City of Literature, and explore our literary places in Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and Cumbria.
