Long Life and Literature: Award-Winning Author to Speak at Being Human Festival

Ageing, memory and life in the 20th century will be the themes of a special guest talk by Booker Prize-winning author Dame Penelope Lively at the University of Lincoln, UK. Part of the Being Human Festival 2016, the free public lecture will see Dame Penelope Lively discuss her recent memoir, Ammonites and Leaping Fish: A Life in Time before she joins guests for a book signing opportunity. The talk will follow a separate workshop exploring the pleasures and provocations of utopian thinking among people aged 60 and over.

Organised by Dr Siân Adiseshiah and Dr Amy Culley from Lincoln’s School of English & Journalism, in partnership with Age UK Lincoln, the workshop will encourage attendees to explore their hopes and fears for the future by engaging with literary utopias, such as Thomas More’s Utopia. The programme of events, titled The Good Age: Long Life, Literature and Utopianism, will take place on Thursday 17th November 2016 in the Minerva Building on the University’s main Brayford Pool Campus. The workshop will run from 1pm until 5.30pm, followed by Dame Penelope Lively’s guest talk at 6pm.

Dr Si¢n Adiseshiah, Reader in the School of English and Journalism at the University of Lincoln, said: “The Being Human Festival’s theme this year is ‘Hope and Fear’, providing a wonderful opportunity to explore the hopes and fears of older people through utopian literature. As Lincolnshire has the largest community of older residents in the UK, and it’s the 500th anniversary of Thomas More’s fictional book Utopia, itÂ’s an ideal time to think about ageing and utopianism.”

Co-organiser Dr Amy Culley added: “We are delighted that Dame Penelope Lively can join us for the event. Her writing offers a thought-provoking and eloquent commentary on the experiences of ageing, and her talk will therefore be the ideal conclusion to this day of reading, conversation and reflection.”

Now in its third year, Being Human is a national forum for public engagement with humanities research. It is led by the School of Advanced Study, University of London, in partnership with the Arts & Humanities Research Council and the British Academy.

The festival highlights the ways in which the humanities can inspire and enrich our everyday lives, help us to understand ourselves, our relationships with others, and the challenges we face in a changing world.

Admission to both events is free but booking is advisable. To book your place at the guest lecture, visit the website. Alternatively, email events@lincoln.ac.uk or phone 01522 837100. To enquire about the workshop email sadiseshiah@lincoln.ac.uk or call 01522 886840.

Ends