Pulitzer Prize winner Richard Powers (The Overstory) makes a rare visit to the UK in support of his compelling new, Booker Prize-shortlisted novel Playground. The tiny island of Makatea in French Polynesia unites four people: Evie, one of the first female divers, now in her 90s; Ina, an artist who creates large sculptures from the plastic destroying our oceans; and two friends: Todd, a programmer working with AI; and Rafi, a poet with strong, moral beliefs. The decision they must make about whether to allow floating cities in the Pacific will change their lives and impact the planet forever.

Richard is the author of 13 previous novels including The Overstory, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, and Bewilderment, which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and longlisted for the National Book Award. He is a MacArthur Fellow and many of his books explore themes connected to science, technology and nature.

Presented in partnership with Centre for New Writing and Creative Manchester.