Best-selling author Owen Jones will be delivering the popular Urban Sermon at this year’s Birmingham Literature Festival
Popular political author and Guardian columnist Owen Jones will be attending the Birmingham Literature Festival next month to give an Urban Sermon at the city’s main Cathedral.
The 30-year-old writer and seasoned political activist, from Sheffield, will be contributing to a firm favourite in the festival’s programme.
Now in its fourth year, the sermon gives an outstanding writer an extended opportunity to explore the ideas and beliefs that inspire their writing. Last year, the sermon was presented by Birmingham poet Benjamin Zephaniah.
This year’s speaker Owen is a bestselling writer, political activist and a weekly columnist for the Guardian. He appears regularly in broadcast media, including BBC1′s Question Time, ITV’s Daybreak, Channel 4 News and Newsnight.
Owen’s first book, Chavs: The Demonization of the Working Class, was long-listed for the Guardian First Book Award and he was Young Writer of the Year at the 2013 Political Book Awards.
His new book, The Establishment: And how they get away with it, is a biting critique of the powerful forces that shape our lives, from the lobbies of Westminster to the newsrooms, boardrooms and trading rooms of Fleet Street and the City.
Owen Jones’ new book, The Establishment, is a biting critique of the powerful forces that shape our lives
In this year’s Urban Sermon, Owen Jones will talk about the deep commitment to democracy that underpins his writing, and his passion for telling the stories of hidden lives and unheard voices.
Following the lecture, he will meet with attendees and sign copies of his new book.
Owen Jones has also recently signed a Unite Against Fascism (UAF) statement opposing the forthcoming English Defence League (EDL) rally to be held in Birmingham on Saturday 11th October. Owen is expected to speak at a peaceful counter rally in the city’s Victoria Square on the same day.
The Birmingham Literature Festival is a project of Writing West Midlands and part of a year round programme of events and activities that includes workshops, conferences and networking, work with young writers and bespoke projects. Writing West Midlands is the region’s literature development agency, one of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisations, and a registered Charity.
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Owen Jones delivers his sermon at the Birmingham Cathedral on Wednesday 8th October. Tickets for the event can be booked here. More information about the Biringham Literature Festival can be found at: www.birminghamliteraturefestival.org
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