Carol Ann Duffy and Friends Series 11 with Jo Bell
Monday, October 5th, 2015, 7pm | Book online
Royal Exchange

Jo Bell with Mark Pajak, Natalie Burdett and Helen Wing

Following the unprecedented success of past seasons, Dame Carol Ann Duffy returns to host this hugely successful poetry readings series. Joining Carol Ann this time are new writers from Manchester Metropolitan University and a variety of established poets, offering a medley of Jazz, Poetry and Conversation.

Book Launch: Pond with Claire-Louise Bennett and Brian Dillon
Tuesday, October 6th, 2015, 6:30 pm | Free – Book online
International Anthony Burgess Foundation

Pond, the first collection of short stories from Galway-based writer, Claire-Louise Bennett, is an absorbing chronicle of the pitfalls and pleasures of a solitary life told by an unnamed narrator living on the edge of a coastal town. In this collection, Bennett pushes the boundaries of the short story into new territory. Part prose-fiction, part stream-of-consciousness, Pond has been compared to Jenny Offill’s acclaimed Dept. of Speculation. Hosted in partnership with independent publisher, Fitzcarraldo Editions, this event offers the opportunity to hear from a writer experimenting with narrative and form. Claire-Louise will be interviewed by writer and critic Brian Dillon. Contact events@anthonyburgess.org to book

North-West Poetry and Poetics Network
Thursday, 8th October, 4.30pm – 6pm  | Free
Geoffrey Manton Building, Room 331

Amy Cutler, Scott Thurston and Alister Noon

Hosting a wealth of poets, and critics, including Carol Ann Duffy, Robert Sheppard, Deryn Rees-Jones, Paul Farley, Scott Thurston, John Redmond and Tony Sharpe and based on the model of the Nineteenth-Century Literature seminar currently run from MMU, this network invites scholars from the region to discuss their recent work. The focus will be on critical work with integrated creative readings with a view to postgraduate critics and young poets working together in the future. For queries, please contact Professor Antony Rowland (A.Rowland@mmu.ac.uk)

CARA: A Lifeline to Academics at Risk Since 1933
Monday, 12th October, 6pm – 7pm  | Free – Book online
Geoffrey Manton Building

Stephen Wordsworth, Executive Director of CARA (the Council for At-Risk Academics), will be talking about how CARA has worked for more than eighty years to help academics and scientists fleeing from discrimination, persecution, suffering or violence in some of the world’s most dangerous places.

Stephen will be accompanied by a current CARA Fellow, Ali Taghizadegan, who will speak at first-hand about his experiences.

Digital News Roadshow: Manchester
Friday, 16th October, 3pm – 5pm  | Free – Book online
The Shed, Chester Street

Google News Lab and Trinity Mirror Group invite you to attend this free workshop session where short, bite size presentations;  will give you a clear overview of some of the tools, tips and tech that journalists are using around the world to complement their stories. Speakers will provide examples and case studies that could help inspire and engage your audiences.

Journalists from newsrooms small, medium and large are invited as are hyperlocal bloggers, video journalists, students studying a related course or anyone with a background or strong interest in journalism. Drinks and light refreshments will be provided.

Department of History, Politics and Philosophy Departmental Book Launch
Monday, 19th October, 5.30pm  | Free
No. 70 Oxford Road, G.09

To celebrate the books published over the last 12 months by our colleagues in the Department of History, Politics and Philosophy we are holding a departmental book launch. The event reflects the range of interests and expertise in the department. Doctors Sam Edwards, Kathryn Hurlock, Jason T. Roche, Faye Sayer, Jonathan Spangler and Lloyd Strickland will introduce their various works on subjects as diverse as the commemoration of World War II, medieval Christian holy war and pilgrimage, practicing public history, the Guise family in early modern Europe and early modern philosophy.

Centre for English, Languages and Linguistics Research Seminar
Wednesday, 21st October, 4pm – 6pm | Free – Book online
No. 70 Oxford Road

The first CELL research seminar of this academic year is entitled ‘An Uneasy Alliance: Scholarship and Activism around the Americans with Disabilities Act’. The seminar will be presented by Professor Lennard Davis, Distinguished Professor at the University of Illinois, Chicago and Director of Project Biocultures and will be chaired and introduced by Dr Lucy Burke of the Department of English at MMU. For queries, please contact Professor Lucy Burke at L.Burke@mmu.ac.uk

2015 Whitehead Lecture
Wednesday, 21st October, 5.30pm – 7pm | Free – Book online
Geoffrey Manton Building

The 2015 Whitehead Lecture is a special event jointly hosted by the Manchester Classical Association and the Manchester Metropolitan University in celebration of MMU’s new B.A. in Ancient History. Hans van Wees, who is Grote Professor of Ancient History at University College London and a leading expert in ancient military history, will speak about the famous battle of Thermopylae and the legendary nature of the Spartans’ heroic last stand. After his talk, there will be a complimentary reception where guests can enjoy refreshments, wine, and a finger buffet.

The Sun King and Holy War
Wednesday, 28th October, 5pm – 8pm | Free – Book online
No. 70 Oxford Road

To commemorate the 300^th anniversary of the death of Louis XIV, six of the leading scholars in Britain of his reign will gather to discuss the drive for ‘holy war’ in various parts of his long reign, and the impact of his last years: his private world, his public image, and his reputation abroad, especially Britain. Panel members include: Professor Daniel Szechi (Manchester), on the Jacobites, Dr Mark Bryant (Chichester), on Louis XIV’s private and spiritual life, Dr Phil McCluskey (Sheffield), on Louis XIV’s relations with the Ottomans, Dr Anne Byrne (independent), on the death of Louis XIV, Dr Lloyd Strickland (MMU), on early modern intellectual history and Dr Jonathan Spangler (MMU), chair, on Louis XIV and the nobility.