Suzannah Lipscomb – Women, Sex and Power in the Sixteenth Century
Most of the women who ever lived left no trace on the record of history and everything we’ve known about…
Events Search and Views Navigation
March 2020
Salon du Chocolat!
This intimate storytelling salon celebrates the relationship between cocoa nibs and forbidden literature, combining mouth-watering chocolate treats with tales of…
Big History Convention
As part of The Big History Weekend, join us for a full day of historical events. 10am : Constantine -…
Constantine: The World is not Enough – SOLD OUT
Saint or murderer? Healer or warmonger? Centuries after he seized his destiny in York, Constantine the Great continues to divide…
Look Closer Poetry Workshop – SOLD OUT
A two-hour poetry workshop to empower creatives with the vision to see stories in ordinary objects and places. We’ll begin…
York St John Lecturers’ Story Time
Join us for this unique event where lecturers in Literature and Creative Writing from York St John University read their…
Henry VI & The Battle of Towton – SOLD OUT
Henry VI inherited England and France before his first birthday, and lost both in a reign beset by mental illness…
WOW! It’s a Wonderful World – SOLD OUT
Join award-winning illustrator Tim Hopgood, author of the best-selling books WOW! Said the Owl, Tip Tap went the Crab and…
On Love : Seni Seneviratne & Afshan D’souza Lodhi
Join poets Seni Seneviratne and Afshan D'souza Lodhi as they read from their new collections. In Unknown Soldier (Peepal Tree…
The Tale of Cromwell’s Head – SOLD OUT
Oliver Cromwell was one of the most powerful men in history. After his death in 1658, he was given a…
The Enormous Crocodile – SOLD OUT
In the biggest brownest muddiest river in Africa an enormous crocodile is making up secret plans. But can the other…
Entertaining Georgian York – SOLD OUT
With blood, brutality and bawdiness mixed with the refined elegance of dance and the music of Handel, Hannah Phillip explains…
The Twits – SOLD OUT
Mr and Mrs Twit enjoy playing nasty tricks on people. But when the Roly Poly Bird visits Mugglewump in the…
Cursed Britain : The History of Witchcraft – SOLD OUT
Historian Thomas Waters explores the lives of cursed or bewitched people and the witches and witch-busters who helped and harmed…
Melvyn Bragg – Love Without End
Melvyn Bragg is best known for The South Bank Show and In Our Time on BBC Radio 4. He is also an accomplished novelist…
The Trouble with Nietzsche
Peter is an aspiring poet suffering from a bad case of writer’s block. One night, after a frustrating evening with…
History Themed Walk
Join Blue Badge Guide for Yorkshire David Holt on a history themed tour of York. David has an outstanding knowledge…
The Yorkshire Shepherdess – An Evening with Amanda Owen – SOLD OUT
Amanda Owen and her family live a life that has almost gone, one ruled by the seasons and her animals.…
Harry Potter Quiz
Calling all Potterheads! Dust off your wands and take a sip of Felix Felicis. This fun quiz will prove if…
Writing for Children – SOLD OUT
Whether you’re an aspiring author, or just curious about how to get started, this short session will introduce you to…
Family History – Fact or Fiction
Three women writing memoir and historical fiction share their stories of family secrets and struggle. Jane Austin (News from Nowhere),…
Kate Humble – Thinking on my Feet
Join farmer, author and TV presenter Kate Humble for a fascinating talk about her life working with animals and wildlife,…
New Writing North Read Regional
Keith Hutson’s award-winning poetry has been widely published both in the UK and internationally. His two pamphlets, Routines and Troupers…
Andrew Lownie – Dicky and Edwina
A major figure behind his nephew Philip’s marriage to Queen Elizabeth ll, Dickie Mountbatten’s career included being Supreme Allied Commander…
Room on the Broom
In Tall Stories’ fun-filled adaptation of Room on the Broom, the best-selling picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler,…
Melanie Reid – The World I Fell Out Of
In 2010, Melanie Reid fell from her horse, breaking her neck and fracturing her lower back. She was 52. Paralysed…
I, Elizabeth – SOLD OUT
1568: At a vital crossroads in history a young Queen steps from the shadows to reveal her thoughts on marriage,…
Beyond the Walls Student Showcase
York Centre for Writing’s Beyond the Walls is an annual anthology celebrating new writing from York St John University creative…
Imaginary Friends: Developing Characters – SOLD OUT
Delivered by Dr Helen Kenwright, Director and founder of the Writing Tree, this session will explore three aspects of characterisation:…
Wendy Mitchell – Somebody I Used to Know
Wendy Mitchell spent twenty years as a non-clinical team leader in the NHS before being diagnosed with Young Onset Dementia…
Children’s Creative Writing Workshop – SOLD OUT
Do you enjoy writing short stories? Or composing poems? Are you under the age of 14 years? This fun workshop…
An Evening with Milly Johnson
With more than two million books sold, Barnsley-born Sunday Times bestselling author Milly Johnson is known as 'The Queen of…
How to Get Published – Agents, Publishers and Editors Panel
A panel of expert publishers, agents and editors will give advice about how to get published. Come armed with all…
The Remarkable Tale of Robert Desnos
Journey through countless other worlds in a wild night of fairytales for grown-ups. When the poet, journalist and bouffon, Robert…
Literary Themed Walk
Join Blue Badge Guide for Yorkshire David Holt on a literary themed tour of York. David has an outstanding knowledge…
Finding The Words
A relaxed and welcoming poetry evening showcasing some of the best poets from Yorkshire and beyond. Char March is a…
Kirsty Wark – In Conversation
Kirsty Wark is a journalist, broadcaster and writer who has presented a wide range of BBC programmes including the ground-breaking…
Polari Literary Salon
London's award-winning LGBT+ literary salon comes to York Literature Festival. Founded by author Paul Burston, Polari showcases the best in…
The Lives and Works of the Brontë Family – SOLD OUT
Former trustee and Life Member of the Brontë Society, Catherine Rayner has written a series of books about the Brontë…
Claudia Hammond – The Art of Rest
Much of value has been written about sleep, but rest is different. It is how we unwind, calm our minds…
Satire, Celebrity & Society: Round the House at Fairfax House
The York Research Unit for the Study of Satire presents a series of events in conjunction with Fairfax House and…
Poetry for All
Poetry for All brings the joy of Poetry and the Spoken Word to everyone with its potential to open up…
Crime Writing Day
Purchase tickets for all five events and pay only £35. Add tickets for all five events to your York Theatre…
Crime Fiction as Fairytale with Rebecca Tope
Rebecca Tope is the author of 34 crime novels, all set in rural England, and ghost writer for the Rosemary…
Look Closer Poetry Workshop
A two-hour poetry workshop to empower creatives with the vision to see stories in ordinary objects and places. We’ll begin…
You’ll Die Laughing with Olga Wojtas
Is there a place for humour when it comes to that most heinous of crimes: murder? Olga Wojtas argues that…
Local Authors Book Fair
Local publishers and authors offer their novels, collections, children’s books and non-fiction for purchase by the public. Come along and…
The Art of the Whodunit with Martin Edwards
Martin Edwards, winner of multiple crime writing awards in Britain and the US, discusses what makes the perfect whodunit with…
Young, Black and British
In this special event presented by Dialogue Books, two young men who have grown up in the UK exchange their…
Making Crime Pay : Getting Published with Allan Guthrie
Agent, editor and award-winning crime author Allan Guthrie offers industry-insider tips and tricks to help navigate the current marketplace. In…
Crime Panel Discussion and Q&A
What makes a great crime novel? Who are the best crime writers? Why is crime such an important genre? Come…
A Royal Affair
In collaboration with CinemArts Ltd, The Mansion House presents a sumptuous evening exploring aspects of the Georgian period through the…
October 2020
YLF Online 2020
We are excited to announce that we will be returning in October with a day of online events! There…
On Love: Afshan D’souza-Lodhi and Seni Seneviratne
Join poets Seni Seneviratne and Afshan D'souza-Lodhi as they read from their collections, Unknown Soldier and re: desire. In Unknown…
Young, Black and British: Jeffrey Boakye and Okechukwu Nzelu
In this special event presented by Dialogue Books, two young men who have grown up in the UK exchange their views…
Locating York in Literature
Dr Rob O’Connor (York Centre for Writing, York St John University) is joined by Drs Zoë Enstone and Adam James Smith…
Suzannah Lipscomb – Women, Sex and Power in the Sixteenth Century
Most of the women who ever lived left no trace on the record of history and everything we’ve known about…
Andrew McMillan, supported by Joshua Judson
Andrew McMillan's debut collection Physical was the first ever poetry collection to win The Guardian First Book Award, amongst others. His second…
November 2020
Book Launch – Pilgrim Lost, with Tim Murgatroyd
Join Explore and York Literature Festival in a joint event to celebrate the launch of Tim Murgatroyd’s new dystopian novel,…
December 2020
S.D. Show – Say Owt
Say Owt Friday 11th December, 7.00pm Tickets are available online via See Tickets. **WE’LL BE STRICTLY ADHERING TO LOCAL AND…