explore words discover worlds

For millennia, Syria has stood at the heart of global history — from the Bronze Age cities of Ebla and Ugarit to Roman Antioch and Umayyad Damascus. A land of prophets, poets, and empires, it was shaped by Persian, Greek, Roman, Islamic, and Ottoman rule. This talk explores Syria’s extraordinary past: a centre of faith, culture, and commerce where civilisations met and ideas flourished. As we trac...

Join writer and researcher Madeline Potter for a deeply personal and timely conversation about her acclaimed book The Roma , a powerful portrait of Europe’s Romani communities, past and present. Blending memoir, reportage, and historical investigation, Potter sheds new light on a people too often excluded from mainstream narratives. From artists and boxers to survivors of persecution and injustice...

Long before it became a flashpoint in today’s geopolitics, Crimea was the site of one of the 19th century’s most consequential wars. This event revisits the Crimean War — a clash of empires, religion, and ambition that saw Britain and the Ottoman Empire allied against an expansionist Russia. While Florence Nightingale and the Charge of the Light Brigade remain in public memory, the war’s deeper ge...

Professor Abdullah Alkadi shares the remarkable story of Al-Qaswāʾ , the beloved she-camel of the Prophet Muhammad. ﷺ Faithfully accompanying the Prophet across the Hijaz, the western region of the Arabian Peninsula, Al-Qaswāʾ is mentioned numerous times in hadith literature, from the Hijrah to the Farewell Hajj. Joining Professor Alkadi for an engaging discussion is Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, President...

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 rangin...

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 conti...

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, com...

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 Guar...

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 eventuall...

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 th...

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 mi...

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...

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...

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...

You’ve been published, you’ve made a splash (or a sprinkle) and your first book is out in the world. Now what? Whether you’re grappling with motivation, facing inspiration hurdles, or doubting your next steps, this event is designed to guide emerging authors through the complex post-publication landscape. Join us for an insightful session with Saeida Rouass, acclaimed author of Eighteen Days of Sp...

Jared Shurin, award-winning anthologist and editor of The Big Book of Cyberpunk , is joined by two of the book’s contributing writers, Lauren Beukes and EJ Swift. Cyberpunk fiction offers space for imaginative storytelling to discuss and even predict the future. Since the 1980s, the genre has posited questions and scenarios that examine virtual reality, cybernetics and AI, and their effect upon or...

Join Bee Rowlatt as she discusses her anticipated debut novel, One Woman Crime Wave. In this gripping event, Rowlatt introduces us to 15-year-old Ashleigh, the neighbourhood’s favourite babysitter, but Ashleigh has an appetite for secrets… Drawing inspiration from JB Priestley’s An Inspector Calls in this fast-paced, witty and scalpel-sharp debut, Rowlatt examines the limits of what money can buy...

Join acclaimed novelist, poet and playwright, Inua Ellams, author of The Half-God of Rainfall and hit play, Barber Shop Chronicles , Ashley Thorpe, author of The Boy to Beat the Gods , and Chikodili Emelumadu, author of Dazzling , to celebrate the extraordinary tales of West African mythology. You may be familiar with Greek mythology, but have you encountered the trickster Anansi, the spider, or t...

Join us for an extraordinary evening with Joanne Harris, the celebrated author of Chocolat , as she unveils her first fantasy novel in six years, The Moonlight Market . Dive into the hidden depths of contemporary London through the eyes of Tom, a photographer who inadvertently falls for Vanessa, a woman ensnared in a perilous double-life in bustling King’s Cross. As Tom’s pursuit leads him into a...

Delve into the thrilling world of crime fiction as we are joined by acclaimed authors, Vaseem Khan, Alex Gray, Sarah Hussain, and chair, Saeida Rouass. They will discuss their gripping novels, each set in a different corner of the globe. These authors will share their unique perspectives on weaving intricate tales of mystery, suspense, and intrigue, transporting readers to diverse settings and cul...

The UK general practice has reached crisis point. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has placed a strain on an already crumbling primary care service, leaving both patients and NHS staff struggling. Seventy-six years after the NHS was created, Dr Ellen Welch and Dr Nighat Arif lift the curtain on general practice, both reflecting on the history of the profession and how it’s changed, and looking...

Join with Ustadh Amjad Tarsin from Al-Maqasid in Pennsylvania, US, as he introduces The Kingdom of the Heart . This latest work of Habib Umar has been translated into English from Arabic by Tarsin. Tarsin will discuss the importance of nurturing the spiritual aspect of the heart, highlighting how our outward actions are deeply connected to the state of our hearts and provide valuable insights into...

Dive into a discussion about class, culture, and art in a conversation that promises to be as enlightening as it will be provocative. Step back into 1857, mill workers from the North of England embarked on an unprecedented journey to Manchester, witnessing the world’s most remarkable display of art. The Manchester Art Treasures Exhibition wasn’t just another gallery showing; it was a monumental ev...

Join this vibrant discussion with Bob Cryer, son of comedy legend, Barry Cryer, as he divulges anecdotes of his father’s incredible life and career from his new book, Barry Cryer: Same Time Tomorrow, including the story of how Cryer called up his literary hero, J.B Priestley, and went over for tea with the Monty Python troop. J.B. Priestley, born in Bradford in 1894, was a prolific writer, playwri...

Immerse yourself in an inspiring celebration of two of the most influential figures in American literature, Maya Angelou and James Baldwin. Dive into the lives and legacies of these two iconic friends, whose shared experiences in the Civil Rights Movement and deep connections to religion shaped their profound contributions to poetry and the arts. Join us for a vibrant panel discussion exploring th...