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Qaisra Shahraz ‘The Concubine and the Slave Catcher’

***This event is SOLD OUT*****

As part of the Manchester Literature Festival Elizabeth Gaskell’s House is proud to welcome prize-winning British-Pakistani author Qaisra Shahraz on 11 October.

Qaisra will be reading from her new book ‘The Concubine and the Slave Catcher’ followed by question and answers. The evening will be hosted by Libby Tempest, Chair of the Gaskell Society.

Following on from The Holy Woman, Typhoon, A Pair of Jeans and Revolt, this new book is a collection of a dozen stories, set on four continents and at different periods in history. Qaisra focuses on the drama of human relationships, played out against various scenarios: the daily struggles for survival of Jews in a Polish concentration camp; the selling of slaves in 18th-century Boston; the tragedies of the partition of India and Pakistan; modern-day friendships in Abu Dhabi, and the fatal jealousy of an Inca concubine and a Spanish wife in 16th -century Peru.

Qaisra is delighted to be talking about her new book in the home of one of her favourite authors.

This event is free of charge and the tea room bar will be open from 5.45pm. The event will start at 6.30pm

Copies of Quisra’s new book will be available to buy on the evening.

Libby Tempest did her first degree in English Literature at Exeter University more years ago than she cares to remember! She followed this by qualifying as a Chartered Librarian and working very happily in Public Libraries for all her working life – and was Children’s Librarian for North Manchester for 10 years, then transferred to Manchester Central Library for a further 10 years as Senior Librarian in charge of Cultural Services (Language & Literature, Arts, Music, Fiction and the Events Programme).  She has been on the Committee of the Gaskell Society for 5 years and became Chair earlier this year.