The ‘Solstice and Equinox’ series of events, presented by the University’s Research Platform Creative Manchester, continues this December with appearances from two high-profile writers in two of the University’s finest cultural institutions.

Award-winning writer, acclaimed author and Professor of New Writing at The University of Manchester, Jeanette Winterson returns to the John Rylands Research Institute and Library on 14 December to share her latest chilling collection – Night Side of the River: Ghost Stories.

Ghost stories told at Christmas is a long-held tradition and a popular Victorian pastime, with families sharing spine-tingling tales around a cosy fireplace as the nights lengthened and winter settled in.

While our lives have become digital, exposed and always on, ghosts have been finding new ways to connect to us, to reach us, to haunt us.

Approaching the darkest day of the year and in the atmospheric setting of the Grade-I listed, neo-Gothic library, Jeanette will read from her new collection, talk with poet and Creative Manchester Director, Professor John McAuliffe about her work and share some of her real-life encounters with the occult. Entertaining, passionate and highly knowledgeable, Jeanette’s events are not to be missed.

On 17 December, prize-winning poet Alice Oswald will read her work at Jodrell Bank as part of its eight nights of Winter Solstice celebrations.

Alice Oswald studied Classics at Oxford and then trained as a gardener. She worked in gardens for seven years before publishing her first book of poems, The Thing in the Gap-Stone Stile, which won the Forward Prize in 1996. Since then, Alice has released eight highly acclaimed collections for which she has won several awards and prizes.

Jodrell Bank is the perfect place to get into the midwinter mood as the site is transformed to celebrate the Winter Solstice.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the event with Alice Oswald has been cancelled. Jodrell Bank will be in touch with those who have made bookings in due course. We expect to bring you an Evening with Alice Oswald again in 2024.

Creative Manchester’s ‘Solstice and Equinox’ series of events brings innovative creative artists to the University’s four Cultural Institutions. Each of our unique cultural institutions – the Whitworth, the John Rylands Research Institute and Library, Manchester Museum and Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre – focus on building civic, national and international partnerships to advance the social, environmental and individual wellbeing of our communities.

These festive literary evenings are open to all and available to book now.

• Book FREE tickets for Jeanette Winterson, 14 December.
• Buy tickets for Alice Oswald, 17 December.