Member Article

Manchester relishes literature greats at Circle Square

Manchester commuters and residents will be turning the pages on a selection of great novels to mark the end of the 11th edition of Manchester Literature Festival.

Circle Square, the city’s newest neighbourhood on Oxford Road, held a ‘pop up’ library to hand out over 400 books signed by prolific authors including Margaret Atwood, Ian McMillan, and Jackie Kay.

Passers-by were delighted to receive their books at the development, a joint venture by Bruntwood and Select Property Group (SGP), which revealed bespoke designs promoting this year’s festival on the site’s hoardings earlier this month.

British author and broadcaster, Lemn Sissay, stopped by to join in the festivities and talk to the public about their favourite authors and books.

The development, a connected and collaborative neighbourhood like no other, is surrounded by leading centres of knowledge, art, music and innovation. Circle Square’s intention is to support and collaborate with key knowledge, arts, music and innovation initiatives and institutions within Manchester, so it seemed a natural choice to work in partnership with the Manchester Literature Festival.

Ian McMillan, poet, journalist, playwright and broadcaster, said: “it’s fantastic to be supporting the Manchester Literature Festival in collaboration with one of Manchester’s newest communities.

I was really pleased to hear Circle Square’s initiative handing out books written by some of the UK’s best celebrated authors and poets. I’m confident it will encourage more people to get back into literature, and spark some creative vision amongst them as they devour the different novels and stories.“

Ana Vieitez, Circle Square Marketing Manager, said: “it was brilliant to see so many people come down to receive a book on the day. Creativity and collaboration are central to our vision, and we are looking forward to partnering up with further initiatives across the city in the future.”

Titles handed out on the day included: Margaret Atwood - Hag Seed, The Good Immigrant anthology of essays, Ian McMillan - To Fold the Evening Star, The Whole Kahani - Love Across a Broken Map, Lemn Sissay - Gold from the Stone, Jenni Murray - A History of Britain in 21 Women, Ann Cleeves - Cold Earth, Jackie Kay - Trumpet, Rose Tremain - The Gustav Sonata and Michael Rosen - Jelly Boots Smelly Boots.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Circle Square .