University News Last updated 28 November 2014
Each year, around Christmas-time, the School of English host a public lecture featuring a key literary or linguistic figure.
This year, on 17 December 2014 (1-2pm) we'll be welcoming local author Gaynor Arnold for our 2014 School of English Lecture. Gaynor has written several novels published by Birmingham's Tindal Street Press, and has been long-listed for the Man Booker and Orange Prizes.
In this lecture, taking place for final time on the City North campus (in room B508), Gaynor will talk about the genre sometimes described as ‘bio-fiction’. Her two nineteenth century novels, Girl in a Blue Dress and After Such Kindness are works of the imagination, but centre on actual historical people.
Girl in a Blue Dress looks at the marriage of Charles Dickens from his wife’s point of view, while After such Kindness re-imagines the relationship between the child Alice and the adult Lewis Carroll.
Gaynor will talk about how she came to be attracted to this form of novel-writing, and the challenges of using actual historical situations and characters while maintaining the essential creative impulse; by going beyond what is actually recorded, and exploring the ‘truth behind the facts’.
She will also read extracts from both novels.
In addition, to all staff and students from Birmingham City University, this lecture is open to members of the public.
To attend, simply head to room B508 on level five of the 'Baker' building on our City North campus.