Be there, or be quarto!
If you’re in Birmingham on Saturday October 3rd 2026, or could be, then drop in to the Birmingham & Midland Institute, Margaret Street, to browse the first Alliance of Literary Societies‘ (ALS) Book Lovers Fair. The event will be open between 10am and 4pm.
The Angela Thirkell Society will be taking a stand, together with around 25 other literary societies, plus Slightly Foxed and the Royal Society of Literature.
We hope that our chair, Hilary Temple, will also be taking a stand—literally—as one of a number of speakers scheduled for the day. Other speakers will include current ALS President Jim Naughtie, Falco author Lindsey Davis, Black Country poet Liz Berry, Frank Cottrell-Boyce (formerly Children’s Laureate) and Gyles Brandreth.
The Birmingham & Midland Institute is conveniently placed near to Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (BMAG) and its re-opened Pre-Raphaelite galleries. Close by is Birmingham Cathedral – home to four stunning stained-glass windows created by Thirkell’s grandfather Edward Burne-Jones and his lifelong friend William Morris.
Incidentally, Edward Burne-Jones was born in a house on nearby Bennetts Hill and educated at the King Edward VI grammar school in New Street. He later attended the Birmingham School of Art which just happens to be situated on Margaret Street!
We’re looking forward to being a part of this ALS Book Lovers Fair in Birmingham. Please come to support The Angela Thirkell Society–we love to meet all Thirkell readers, whether ATS members or not–and perhaps you’ll discover a new author while you’re there.
The image of Birmingham & Midland Institute, Margaret Street is credited to Tiger, CC BY-SA 2.0 (source: Geograph).
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