Month: April 2021

Talk & Readings

1493: Colombus is captured in the Caribbean and never returns to Spain.
1531: The Incas land in Europe and invade a war-torn continent.

In Civilisations, bestselling author Laurent Binet puts us in the strange situation of having to imagine an inverted globalisation in which Europe would be the colonised and not the coloniser. Join him as he discusses with author and literary critic Alex Preston (This Bleeding City) how alternate history literature informs our understanding of the world. The discussion will be complemented by readings of excerpts of Civilisations by actor David Mildon.

Hybrid event
Onsite: David Mildon
Online: Alex Preston, Laurent Binet

photo: Laurent Binet © Jean-François Paga

Related / Latest Publications:

	Civilisations, Laurent Binet (translated by Sam Taylor, published by Vintage)
	As Kingfishers Catch Fire, Alex Preston (published by Corsair)
	Virtual Live Reading Group: Civilisations by Laurent Binet

Onsite

FRA | 1951 | 88 mins | dir. Jacqueline Audry, with Edwige Feuillère, Simone Simon and Marie-Claire Olivia | cert. tbc | in French with EN subs | 4K restoration

Based on a novel by Dorothy Bussy, Olivia is a fascinating study of love and repression by Jacqueline Audry, a director who has long been hiding in plain sight. Set in late-19th century France, Olivia depicts an all-girls boarding school run by two competitive headmistresses Miss Julie (Edwige Feuillère) and Miss Cara (Simone Simon). Tensions unravel when new student Olivia arrives... A powerfully complex film that resonates even today.

Screening will be preceded by a pre-recorded introduction by Professor Ginette Vincendeau (King’s College London).

Talk & Readings

It can often take years for authors to become acclaimed literary figures. And yet sometimes a newcomer’s first book hits the mark perfectly. One of the Observers’ Top 10 debut novelist and author of little scratch, Rebecca Watson and the multi-awarded author of A Respectable Occupation, Julia Kerninon discuss how young women authors can bring a different voice to the literary world. A conversation chaired by writer Lauren Elkin and interspersed with readings by Olivia Ross.

Hybrid event
Onsite: Lauren Elkin, Rebecca Watson, Olivia Ross
Online: Julia Kerninon

photos: Julia Kerninon © Julien Alcacer, Rebecca Watson © Sophie Davidson & Lauren Elkin © Francesca Mantovani

Related / Latest Publications:

	A Respectable Occupation, Julia Kerninon (translated by Ruth Diver, published by Les Fugitives)
	little scratch, Rebecca Watson (published by Faber)
	Sous la peau, Rebecca Watson (translated into French by Julia Kerninon, published by Grasset)
	Flâneuse, Lauren Elkin (published by Chatto & Windus)