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Free Author Talk: Exploring Hilary Mantel's Life, Work and Literary Legacy

Current student event

September 2026

Students walking outside our St John's Campus main reception
  • September 24, 2026
  • 6.30-8pm
  • The Hive, Worcester

Hilary Mantel's novels transformed historical fiction and captivated millions of readers worldwide. This special free event offers a unique opportunity to explore the life, work and enduring influence of the twice Booker Prize-winning author through discussion with one of the world's leading Mantel scholars.

Mistress of Phantoms: Remembering Hilary Mantel will feature Dr Lucy Arnold, Senior Lecturer in English Literature at the University of Worcester, discussing her newly published book, Hilary Mantel, the first critical guide to the acclaimed author's life and career.

Joined by The Hive's Academic Liaison Librarian, Tom Mandall, Dr Arnold will examine Mantel's remarkable body of work, from the bestselling Wolf Hall trilogy to her wider contributions as a novelist, essayist and cultural commentator.

The discussion will explore the themes and ideas that shaped Mantel's writing throughout her career, including her engagement with history, storytelling, ghosts, haunting and the supernatural.