York Literature Festival
Tickets for Events
SERVUS: An Evening with Emma Southon
Thursday 21 May 2026
7.30 – 9.30pm
Merchant Adventurer’s Hall, YO1 9XD
£10 per ticket (carer 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.
Sponsored by York St John University
Our thanks go to those people and organisations that continue to support us every single year: York St John University, St Peter’s School, The Mount School, York Theatre Royal and Explore York Libraries and Archives.
Rob O’Connor, Festival Chair
VOLUNTEERS
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY NOT LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR YLF 2026.
If you wish to volunteer as a steward for the York Literature Festival then please get in touch with us at info@yorkliteraturefestival.co.uk. Please be aware that volunteers may be required to carry out light manual tasks (e.g. moving chairs) and must have an enthusiasm for literary events. Volunteers will be asked to steward for 30-60 minutes before the start of each event and will be welcome to join the audience once the event has started.