SERVUS: An Evening with Emma Southon
Thursday 21 May 2026
7.30 – 9.30pm
Merchant Adventurer’s Hall, YO1 9XD
£10 per ticket (£5 concessions available)
A disruptive new history of slavery in the Roman Empire by an acclaimed historian.
Slavery, to the Roman, existed like air or the sun. Up to one third of the population of the Roman world were enslaved. It was institutional, and cruel, and completely ubiquitous. Yet enslaved people in the Roman Empire lived rich, varied lives – which differed from those of the free.
Servus is an act of rememberence for these people.
Join us in welcoming historian, Emma Southon, a former bookseller and the author of A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women, A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and, Agrippina: Empress, Exile, Hustler, Whore, a Best Book of the Year for the New Statesman. Armed with a PhD in Ancient History, she also co-hosts the History is Sexy podcast. She lives in Belfast with her husband and cat Livia.
Servus takes us into the invisible spaces of the Roman world, where millions of enslaved lives were unwillingly dedicated to the perpetuation of the empire that owned them.
This is an impassioned, illuminating account from a witty, sensitive and talented historian.
Fox Lane Books will be supplying copies at the event with signings taking place after the talk.
More information on each event can be found on our Events page listings
YORK LITERATURE FESTIVAL GALLERY 2026
While you’re waiting for the next festival…
The York Howlers
Every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month, 7:30pm, head down to the Blue Boar for everyone’s favourite poetry open mic night!
Society of Hauntologists
The York Society of Hauntologists is a reading group embracing all things Folk Horror in England’s most haunted city at the Black Swan Inn on the last Wednesday of the month, 7pm.
Head to their Instagram to find out what they’re currently reading:
YLF 25
Sponsored by York St. John University for the 2026 York Literature Festival.
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