British Council Literature Seminar

Having explored the topic of diversity in UK literature in the context of race and gender in 2017 and 2018, we are thrilled that Bernardine Evaristo – the renowned writer, academic and Man Booker Prize Winner 2019 – chaired the British Council Literature Seminar in 2023. You can now watch the seminar for yourself here.  Class and Contemporary UK Writing'The hierarchy of class is deeply embedded into the structures of British society and affects every aspect of our lives. Although the United Kingdom has become a more progressive and socially mobile society, it is nonetheless far from fulfilling an egalitarian dream. We are still a nation rife with inequality of lifestyle, education, opportunity and economic prosperity, especially as it pertains to and disadvantages the working classes. The literature industry has traditionally been a middle class occupation, a fact that extends from those who work in publishing houses, to the authors themselves. Historically excluded from working within publishing, working class people might encounter an array of obstacles to getting published. This will range from the self-belief and courage required to envision and pursue a career as a writer, to becoming a writer who has to negotiate a predominantly middle class literary culture where you might be seen as an outsider who doesn’t fit in because of your background, unless, of course, you change, even if it is only superficial code-switching, such as changing your accent and speech, social... Continue reading at 'British Council global'

[ British Council global | 2023-03-16 10:55:14 UTC ]
News tagged with: #bernardine evaristo #united kingdom #man booker prize

Other Publishing stories related to: 'British Council Literature Seminar '


Independent Bookstores Vie for British Book Award Honors in Eight Regions

With one bookstore reporting a 36-percent increase in business in 2017, almost 40 retailers are put into contention for the Independent Bookstore of the Year prize at the British Book Awards, the Nibbies. The post Independent Bookstores Vie for British Book Award Honors in Eight Regions appeared... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-02-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #regions appeared #independent bookstore #year prize


Indie bookshops vie for The British Book Awards title

A bumper crop of Britain and Ireland’s best independent bookshops are bucking the market trend, achieving double-digit sales rises in 2017. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-02-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bumper crop #independent bookshops #market trend


Global deals for British psychologist's 'riveting' debut

Faber has won a "dark and gripping" debut exploring the complex dynamic between a patient and a therapist after a five-way heated auction. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-02-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #debut exploring #global deals #heated auction


S&S launches competition with Darley Anderson and Bradford Literature Festival

Simon & Schuster UK has launched a competition with the Darley Anderson Literary Agency and Bradford Literature Festival to find the next bestselling commercial fiction author. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-02-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #darley anderson


Two British playwrights benefit from Audible's $5m fund

The first group of emerging playwrights to benefit from Audible's $5m fund will include two British writers: Gary McNair, from Glasgow, and James Fritz, from London.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-02-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Jacaranda pledges to publish 20 black British writers in 2020

Jacaranda Books, in partnership with Words of Colour Productions, has launched an initiative to publish 20 Black British writers in the year 2020 across adult fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #jacaranda books #adult fiction


€20k EBRD Literature Prize reveals inaugural shortlist

The €20,000 EBRD Literature Prize, launched by the British Council and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, has revealed its inaugural shortlist, including titles from Turkey, Croatia, Russia, Albania and Lebanon. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-02-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #british council #european bank #inaugural shortlist #including titles


British Book Award Judges Announced as the ‘Nibbies’ Entry Deadline Approaches

With roughly 25 awards on the list, the British Book Awards–the 'Nibbies'–are selected by a sizable group of industry players who serve as jurors. The deadline for entries in this year's competition is February 9. The post British Book Award Judges Announced as the ‘Nibbies’ Entry Deadline... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #industry players


The Eccles British Library Writer's Award: investing in authors

Catherine Eccles reflects on the history of the Eccles British Library Writer's Award and how it supports authors' careers. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-01-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


British Book Awards launch for 2018 with three new categories

The British Book Awards 2018 has launched with the introduction of two new awards for individuals, Author of the Year and Illustrator of the Year, as well as a new category for audiobooks. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-01-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


British Book Awards Announce New Honors for Illustrators, Authors, Audiobooks

British Book Award organizers have added an Author of the Year and Illustrator of the Year honor to the list of 'Nibbies,' as well as a new audiobook category to the Books of the Year division.  The post British Book Awards Announce New Honors for Illustrators, Authors, Audiobooks appeared first... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-01-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #audiobooks appeared #year honor


Muhammad Khan | 'This book says you absolutely can be British and Muslim'

A thunderous contemporary YA novel by a former teacher tackles some extreme issues with compelling dialogue and a lightness of touch, finds Fiona Noble. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-01-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


November 2017 Bestseller Lists from China: Literature and Current Affairs in the Spotlight

This month, Chinese bestseller lists from OpenBook and Trajectory show some literary fiction highlights, as well as interest in books on current affairs. The post November 2017 Bestseller Lists from China: Literature and Current Affairs in the Spotlight appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-12-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #spotlight appeared #current affairs


Shenzhen’s Top 10 Children’s Books in China: Literature, Education, Picture Books

The Shenzhen Reading Forum has issued their list of 10 most popular children's books in China for 2017, as the children's book sector in China continues to grow. The post Shenzhen’s Top 10 Children’s Books in China: Literature, Education, Picture Books appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-12-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #picture books #popular children #book sector


Brexit will usher in a dark chapter for new British authors, warns publisher

Harry Potter publisher Bloomsbury warns UK’s exclusive English rights across EU will end, with firms fighting US companies in an open marketThe next generation of British authors could struggle to land a book deal after Brexit, according to the publisher who launched Harry Potter writer JK... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-12-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #dark chapter #british authors #book deal #close ties #books sold #guardian view


Arts Council England’s Alarm for Literary Fiction: ‘The Problem Is a Real One’

'Overall the books selling well' in the UK 'are not literary,' Arts Council England's commissioned report from the Canelo team announces. The post Arts Council England’s Alarm for Literary Fiction: ‘The Problem Is a Real One’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literary fiction #books selling


Literary fiction in crisis as sale drop dramatically, Arts Council England reports

New figures show that fewer UK writers earn enough to live on, as ACE blames falling sales of literary fiction on the recession and the rise of smartphonesThe image of the impoverished writer scratching out their masterwork in a freezing garret remains as true today as it was a century ago,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-12-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #figures show #century ago #report commissioned #book prices #report found #print sales


Agent Stefanie Hirsbrunner of InterKontinental: Selling African Literature Rights Into Germany

Berlin's InterKontinental agency is ending its first year ready to accelerate rights sales with its African literature festival: Writing in Migration. The post Agent Stefanie Hirsbrunner of InterKontinental: Selling African Literature Rights Into Germany appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-12-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #germany appeared


Ishiguro appeals for more diversity and open-mindedness in literature

Faber is publishing Kazuo Ishiguro's Nobel Lecture which the acclaimed writer used to issue a rallying call to the literary world for open mindedness and diversity. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #acclaimed writer


British Library's 'truly exceptional' chief librarian to retire after 15 years

The British Library’s 'truly exceptional' chief librarian, Caroline Brazier, will be stepping down from her role next year after deciding to take early retirement. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #british library #chief librarian