In the tradition of Charles Dickens, award-winning writer and acclaimed author of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?, and Frankissstein, Jeanette Winterson has for years written a new story at Christmas time.

Twelve of her brilliantly imaginative, funny, and bold tales were published as Christmas Days: 12 Stories and 12 Feasts for 12 Days in 2018, and she returns to the occasion this year, to read a story and talk about her work with poet John McAuliffe in the setting of the Grade-I listed, neo-Gothic building, the John Rylands Research Institute and Library, on Deansgate, Manchester.

The event marks the launch of Creative Manchester’s ‘Solstice and Equinox series’, and inaugurates a new series of events which brings innovative creative artists to The University of Manchester’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.

The event takes place at 6.30pm on Thursday 15 December at the Rylands, Deansgate, and will be preceded by a festive drinks reception at 5.30pm. Everyone is welcome.