Way with Words

Award-winning writer and historian Jill Liddington discusses Anne Lister’s 1836-38 diaries, focusing on Anne’s relationship with wealthy local heiress Ann Walker.

This intriguing talk examines the circulation of Modern Greek literature in Germany and how specific publishers enact German-Greek cultural relations.

From Dracula to Twilight, explore the history of vampires in literature with award-winning broadcaster, writer, art educator and cultural historian Christopher Frayling.

Art historian and curator Susan Owens takes a look at England’s invented histories, from the glamorous to the disturbing, from the eighth century to the present day.

Come along for a powerful performance of 'War Horse', one of the most beloved books by renowned British children’s author Michael Morpurgo, in concert here with Ben Murray.

Join historian Gillian Waters for an exploration of a love triangle that may have been the inspiration for the medieval Arthur, Guinevere and Lancelot stories.

Medievalist Eleanor Parker of the University of Oxford explores the fascinating history of Anglo-Saxon festivals, customs and traditions linked to the different seasons.

Join wildlife filmmaker Tom Mustill for a thrilling investigation into the pioneering world of animal communication, where big data and artificial intelligence are changing our relationship with animals forever.

In this concert, musicians Supriya Nagarajan and Duncan Chapman take you on a wonderful journey into the world of Sita, the queen of Ayodhya and central figure in the ancient Sanskrit epic Ramayana.

Geoff Ashton, former Head of Employer Insight at a UK Government department, will explain the nine factors that influence people’s behaviour and lead a discussion on how these might be showing up in our daily lives.

From Colombian emeralds in Tudor jewellery to Black voices in 18th-century novels, Lauren Working and Olivia Carpenter of the University of York invite you to reimagine and rediscover British art and literature.

Authors Emily Hund and Paula Marantz Cohen discuss how social media impacts our conversations, intimacy and relationship dynamics.

A panel of literature experts discuss the first ever anthology of Sri Lankan and diasporic poetry and how it reshapes our understanding of migrational poetics.

Participate in an exciting workshop on the power of clothes and their representation in literature, including creative writing exercises that will give you the opportunity to start your own piece of clothing memoir or fiction.

Find out about the OurLOTE Project, a collaborative social media project celebrating languages other than English used in the City of York.

Join Alan Williams, Emeritus Professor of Iranian Studies, for a talk including a recitation and a performance by Seyed Ali Jaberi and the Hamdel Ensemble, centring on the story of an old musician, from the first book of Rumi’s ‘Masnavi’.

Queer science fiction writer and researcher Bee Scott explores how science fiction plays are reinvestigating and challenging our assumptions about the future of queer life.

Author and linguist Paul Anthony Jones explains the true nuts and bolts of language, and provides answers to a plethora of linguistic questions you’ve likely never thought to ask.

Delve into the diversity of grammatical variation in spoken dialects of English with University of York linguist Claire Childs to find out how dialects follow their own sets of rules.

Join us to find out all about the curious and enduring relationship between one of Britain’s most renowned literary figures and his sister-in-law.

Science Museum Curator Glyn Morgan discusses the worldwide phenomenon of science fiction, revealing the scientific advances and imagination behind it.

Join Julius Bryant, Keeper Emeritus of Word and Image at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, to discover some of the most influential and compelling illustrated books on topics ranging from religion to shopping, and natural history to fashion.

Preti Taneja - writer, activist and literature professor - discusses her award-winning non-fiction book ‘Aftermath’, which interrogates the language of terror, trauma and grief, with writer and University of York lecturer Juliana Mensah.

Jay Courtney reads from her new book 'Juicy Crones' and leads a conversation about the joys and challenges of being an older woman.

Join author and perfumery expert Charles Sell for an engaging exploration of biblical perfumes that blends science, history and religion.

(Re)discover the Ukrainian language in its uniqueness and be reminded of the power of language in this important talk with University of York linguist Ursula Lanvers and Ukrainian visiting scholar Tetyana Lunyova.