Howard Jacobson comes to town

Our new favourite cultural venue (http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/News/General/Weve-got-the-IABF-lucky-Manchester-_11590.asp) in town has started its programme of events. Here’s their listing for September and its starting off with a bang and a Manchester big gun, the wonderful author Howard Jacobson. This is a man who views the world as comedy rather than tragedy, and is one of the best and most cogent speakers in the UK.

Howard Jacobson: The Finkler Question
2 September 2010, 6.30pm
£3 on the door, redeemable against a copy of the book
First up at the Foundation is Howard Jacobson for the Manchester launch of his new Booker-longlisted novel The Finkler Question, 'a scorching story of exclusion and belonging, justice and love, ageing, wisdom and humanity'. Howard Jacobson was born in Prestwich, Manchester and has taught in Sydney and Cambridge; he's written acclaimed fiction and non-fiction including Kalooki Nights, Coming from Behind, No More Mister Nice Guy, Who's Sorry Now, The Making of Henry and The Mighty Walzer, which won the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for comic writing.

In association with Bloomsbury. www.bloomsbury.com

Lemn Sissay: Texting Obama
9 September 2010, 7pm
Free
Lemn Sissay MBE is an internationally renowned poet, author of four poetry collections: Tender Fingers in a Clenched Fist (1988), Rebel Without Applause (1992), Morning Breaks in the Elevator (1999), and The Emperor’s Watchmaker (2000). He is also the editor of The Fire People: A Collection of Contemporary Black British Poets (1998), and his work has appeared in many anthologies. His one person show Something Dark (2006) toured internationally, and was adapted for BBC Radio 3, winning the RIMA award 2006. He is also a regular contributor to BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Live. www.lemnsissay.com

In association with Texting Obama: Politics/Poetics/Culture, an interdisciplinary conference of local and international academics, writers, performers and directors gathering at Manchester Metropolitan University from 7-10 September to review the history and passage of Barack Obama’s first Presidential term. For more details visit www.mmu.ac.uk

This is a free event: to reserve your place contact textingobama@mmu.ac.uk with 'Lemn Sissay at the Engine House' in the subject line of your mail.

New poetry: Scott Thurston, Robert Sheppard and Antony Rowland
30 September 2010, 7pm
Free
The launch of three collections from Scott Thurston, Robert Sheppard and Antony Rowland: poetry from the leading edge, some experimental, some avant garde, all new, all the time. In association with the Knives Forks And Spoons Press. www.knivesforksandspoonspress.co.uk

The International Anthony Burgess Foundation is at 3 Cambridge Street, Manchester M1 5BY
www.anthonyburgess.org
0161 235 0776