Description
Some characters linger in the shadows of the stories that made them famous. Across literature, women have often been shaped by the expectations, morality and constraints of their eras, their voices filtered through the perspectives of others. Today, a new generation of writers is reclaiming them.
Join authors David M. Barnett and Elle Machray as they explore how contemporary fiction revisits familiar narratives through bold feminist and queer perspectives. Drawing on history, folklore, myth and literary tradition, they examine the enduring appeal of complex female characters and the stories that continue to inspire reinterpretation.
This event will explore why these figures still captivate us, what the canon left unsaid and how contemporary retellings allow the silenced and misunderstood to speak anew.
Please note this event and line-up has changed from its original listing.
About the Authors
David M. Barnett
David Barnett is an author and journalist based in West Yorkshire. His latest novel is Calling Major Tom, published by Trapeze. He writes mainly for the UK national press on books, culture and general topics, and is published regularly in the Guardian, Independent, and several magazines and online platforms.
Elle Machray
Elle Machray grew up in Birmingham to Welsh–Caribbean and Scottish parents. After graduating from the HarperCollins Author Academy in spring 2021, their debut novel Remember, Remember was longlisted for the Mslexia Novel Prize, judged by Hilary Mantel.
About the Chair
Remona Aly
Remona Aly is a journalist and broadcaster. She writes for The Guardian, is a regular contributor to BBC Radio 2’s Pause for Thought and a presenter on BBC Radio 4’s Something Understood. She is also an editor and podcast host for various platforms.
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