Anne Brontë and Agnes Grey: Parallels of Resilience and Reality

Jeremy Corbyn and Len McCluskey share a passionate belief in a fairer, more equal Britain, encapsulated in Labour’s 2017 election slogan ‘For the many, not the few’. This slogan, inspired by Shelley’s famous poem The Masque of Anarchy, points to something else the two men have in common: a lifelong enthusiasm for poetry. Their selected poems travel over centuries and continents, with poets ranging from William Blake to Emily Dickinson, and Stevie Smith to Linton Kwesi Johnson. Featuring guest selections from the likes of Rob Delaney, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Ken Loach, Maxine Peake, Michael Rosen, Alexei Sayle, and Gary Younge. Join Corbyn and McCluskey as they discuss the poems that continue to inspire them in their political careers.

Join us for a thought-provoking talk with Professor Saeed Khan as we mark 50 years since the fall of Saigon, the event that ended the Vietnam War on April 30th,1975. Known in Vietnam as Reunification Day, it reshaped the political and cultural landscape of Southeast Asia. Professor Khan will explore the global impact of the war’s conclusion, the legacy of U.S. involvement, and how its memory continues to influence contemporary geopolitics. A concise, insightful session that offers historical reflection and fresh perspective – perfect for your lunch hour.

Join us for a powerful conversation reflecting on the 40th anniversary of the 1984-85 miners’ strike, one of the most pivotal events in Britain’s industrial and political history. Featuring Emily P. Webber, author of Mining Men: Britain’s Last Kings of the Coalface, and Craig Oldham, author of In Loving Memory of Work, the event explores the strike’s lasting impact on working-class identity, community, and resistance.

Join WritersMosaic and The Royal Literary Fund’s John Siddique for a gripping exploration into the dark hearts of storytelling with three of today’s leading voices in global crime fiction. Sunday Times bestseller, Saima Mir, City University’s Crime Writing Award winner, Nadine Matheson, and critically acclaimed author, Kia Abdullah – whose work has been hailed as ‘thriller of the year’ by The Guardian and The Telegraph – come together to discuss the creative drive, personal journeys, and cultural forces that shape their narratives. From vengeance to justice, and trauma to empowerment, this conversation reveals what lies beneath the surface of every killer story.

Join Ustadh Feraidoon Mojadedi, one of the best-known and most respected community leaders and academics in the Bay Area, California, as he guides us on a journey of spiritual enlightenment through the profound contributions of two remarkable poets, Rumi and Iqbal.At the age of five, Mojadedi began to memorise poems by Rumi and other great poets. His love of poetry continued to grow and eventually developed into a passion and calling that would allow him to teach regular classes on Rumi throughout California, the US, UK, Canada,Australia, Malaysia, Germany and even as far as Konya, Turkey, where Mawlana Rumi is laid to rest.Despite emerging in vastly different historical contexts, both Rumi and Iqbal transcended their respective challenges by embracing the concept of Divine Love. Discover how their messages revolve around two central themes: self-discovery as a pathway to realising one’s true potential, and the importance of connecting with God through this journey of introspection.

Join us for our annual Free Word Lecture, which aims to uphold the ethos of free speech with a focus on the power and politics of words. Continuing the legacy of the Free Word Centre, an international centre for literature, literacy and free expression, this annual event creates a platform for writers to spark stimulating conversations and challenge our assumptions about the world. Following in the footsteps of previous speakers Ben Okri and Rana Ayyub, this year’s lecture promises to be another unmissable event exploring the transformative and democratising power of words and the importance of freedom of expression.

On the 175th anniversary of the death of Anne Brontë, we are joined by authors and Brontë experts, Adelle Hay and Nick Holland, to explore her life, legacy, and her debut novel, Agnes Grey. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century England, this poignant novel follows the experiences of Agnes, a governess, as she navigates the complexities of love, morality, and social class, which is argued to mirror Anne’s own life. Whether you’re a lifelong fan of the Brontës or new to their literary legacy, this event promises to be a captivating journey into the heart and mind of Anne Brontë and her timeless masterpiece, Agnes Grey.

What is fact when the leaders of your country deny it? Disinformation is the new weapon in the political warfare that dominates the headlines, and social media has enabled it to spread like wildfire. Are we heading towards a world of mass surveillance and repressive regimentation of people and behaviours within society? Are we unwittingly experiencing the end of liberal democracy, and what are the alternatives? Political scientist Anne Norton, in her new book Wild Democracy, questions the principles of liberalism and modern democracies and calls for a more anarchic, more courageous democracy to avoid the drift towards authoritarianism. But would this place too much power in the hands of the people?Join Anne Norton, Myriam François, and Saeed Khan for a fascinating discussion about the current state of democracy in the modern world, how we can navigate a world where the ‘truth’ is not all that it seems, and what future alternative systems could look like.

Discover the essential writings of the late scholar, Martin Lings, curated by Dr Reza Shah-Kazemi. This collection brings together some of the most remarkable chapters from Lings’ extensive body of work, including his insights into the perennial philosophy, and writings on Islam and Sufism. Delve into Lings’ reflections on the spiritual dimensions within Shakespeare’s mature plays, such as Hamlet, as well as his exploration of Qur’anic calligraphy and illumination, and celebrated translations of Sufi mystical poetry classics. Dr Shah-Kazemi, who was not only Lings’ neighbour but also his student and friend for over 16 years, will guide us through select passages from the book, focusing particularly on the mystical depths found within Hamlet.

Join Bradford’s own Sairish Hussain as she returns to the festival for a special event on her latest novel, Hidden Fires, in-conversation with Yousra Samir.Set during Ramadan 2017, the story weaves a poignant narrative between Yusuf, haunted by a nightmarish past, and his granddaughter, Rubi, who confronts the cultural clash of their lives when she moves to London.As Rubi uncovers deeply buried secrets, they both grapple with painful memories that challenge their perceptions and forge a new bond. From the acclaimed author shortlisted for the Costa Prize, HiddenFires is a gripping exploration of grief, loss and the enduring power of family ties against the backdrop of significant historical events.Don’t miss this powerful discussion that delves into the complexities of personal and collective history.