explore words discover worlds Bradford Literature Festival

In this episode, Tolkien biographer John Garth and Professor Diane Purkiss hold a fascinating discussion exploring the bonds between J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, and the impact they had on each other’s work.

In this episode our panellists Anthony Anaxagorou, Nikita Gill, Jeremy Noel-Tod, and chair Sanah Ahsan, as they ask whether in our information-saturated age and with ethics evolving over the years: has it become impossible to separate artists from their work?

In this episode, travel on a spiritual journey with renowned writer, scholar and translator Rana Safvi, as she delves into the rise of Sufism in India. Safvi discusses her book, In Search of the Divine, which evokes in vivid detail the sacred atmosphere she encountered during her research.

In this episode, poet and author, Blake Morrison and actor, Yusra Warsama explore the Bronte sisters’ remarkable legacy, and discuss some of the sisters’ rare manuscripts and first editions that form part of the Blavatnik Honresfield Library.

In this episode, writer and sociologist Keith Kahn-Harris and award-winning photographic artist and journalist Robert Stothard discuss their book: What Does A Jew Look Like?
Fed up with media clichés around a ‘typical’ Jewish person, they set out to illustrate the diversity of the Jewish community, and celebrate the countless ways that men and women can be Jewish in Britain today.

In this episode, join Reza Aslan for an enlightening talk about the enduring legacy of Hussain ibn Ali, a figure who, while often seen as polarising within Islam, has the potential to be a unifying force for social justice and freedom of speech.