Top author to visit Exeter

Bestselling author Caleb Azumah Nelson will visit Exeter in August as part City Reads - Exeter City of Literature's ongoing campaign to decide the city’s favourite book.

The number one Times bestseller will be heading to Exeter Phoenix on Tuesday 6 August to join Exeter City of Literature’s City Reads Film Season.

He will introduce his directorial debut short film Pray, and talk about why Barry Jenkins’ adaptation of If Beale Street Could Talk is so special to him.

Caleb will sign copies of Open Water which was a Costa First Novel Award winner and shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year, and also features on the City Reads shortlist.

The City Reads Film Season is a series of six screenings held at Exeter Phoenix’s solar-powered cinema Studio 74 that are direct adaptations and cinematic inspirations of the six shortlisted books of City Reads. 

Amongst the other films being shown are Kenneth Branagh’s adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express, and an all-day marathon screening of the extended editions of The Lord of the Rings.

Devon independent bookshop First Draft Books, from Bovey Tracey, will provide an additional literary touch to the season of films with a pop-up bookshop at Exeter Phoenix alongside each film.

Anna Cohn Orchard, Executive Director of Exeter City of Literature, said: “From the Exeter Book to Exeter’s favourite book, this city has always treasured reading.

“We want to celebrate that with a year of reading for pleasure, book giveaways, and light-hearted debate over what our favourite books are. We want City Reads to unite the city behind the joy of reading, no matter the book.”

Tickets for this joint screening and book signing can be purchased from £5 by visiting https://exeterphoenix.org.uk/events/if-beale-street-could-talk/