Haunted Woods and Grimm Tales:
Philip Pullman and Sam Leith

A special conversation to open the British Library's Fairy Tales exhibition season.

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Upcoming Events

Fairy Tales for Grown-Ups

Tuesday 21 April, 19:30

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Fairy Tales for Grown-Ups

Tuesday 21 April, 19:30

Fairy Tales have an older and darker past as stories for adults as well as the young. In recent decades, there has been a revival of new versions of the fairy tale tradition by some extraordinary writers dark and bright; feminist; horrific and funny; sensual, stark and startling. This exclusive online event gathers four acclaimed storytellers for an evening of conversation and readings: Gregory Maguire, Susanna Clarke, Amal El-Mohtar and Terri Windling.

Strange Girls, Beautiful Monsters, the Grateful and the Dead

Thursday 30 April, 19:00

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Strange Girls, Beautiful Monsters, the Grateful and the Dead

Thursday 30 April, 19:00

Baba Yagas, bloodstained dolls, frozen spit, psychic hare-hags, bizarre marriages, and lovers who hide monstrous secrets behind their charms. Irrepressible storytellers Ben Haggarty and Sarah Liisa Wilkinson invite you to stay up late and feel too much as they lure you into the full-blooded and unashamedly magical realm of fairy tales for grown-ups. In association with the Crick Crack Club.

The Fairy Tale Fan Club, with Richard Ayoade and David Roberts

Tuesday 26 May, 14:30

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The Fairy Tale Fan Club, with Richard Ayoade and David Roberts

Tuesday 26 May, 14:30

What happens when curious kids send letters to their fairy tale idols?! Discover more about the actual real lives of your favourite fairy tale characters at this entertaining family event based on the book The Fairy Tale Fan Club by comedian, actor/director and presenter Richard Ayoade and illustrator David Roberts. Featuring live letter reading and illustration, and fantastic fun for all the family!

Speakers

Julia Eccleshare

Julia Eccleshare is a writer, broadcaster and lecturer. She was the Guardian's children's books editor until 2016.

Philip Pullman

Philip Pullman is one of the most highly respected children's authors writing today.

Winner of many prestigious awards, including the Carnegie of Carnegies and the Whitbread Award, Pullman’s epic fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials has been acclaimed as a modern classic It has sold nearly 20 million copies worldwide and been translated into over 40 languages. He recently published the final novel in The Book of Dust trilogy which followed it. In 2005 he was awarded the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award.

Sam Leith

Sam Leith is Literary Editor of The Spectator and had also written extensively for the Guardian, TLS, Financial Times, Telegraph and Daily Mail.

He was a judge for the 2015 Man Booker Prize and has judged every other major UK literary award. His previous books include You Talkin’ To Me?: Rhetoric from Aristotle to Trump and Beyond and Write To The Point: How to be Clear, Correct, and Persuasive on the Page. The Haunted Wood: A History of Childhood Reading was A Sunday Times, Irish Times, Financial Times, Independent, Daily Mail, TLS, Economist, Prospect, Evening Standard and New Statesman Book of the Year 2024.