Little Ruins: Rebuilding a Life | Manni Coe

'The Corner is a place where birds with broken wings will come to heal.'

Join the Sunday Times bestselling author Manni Coe in conversation with The Very Rev'd Dr Mark Oakley as they discuss Manni's new book Little Ruins: Rebuilding a Life.

Looking to begin a new chapter after years on the move, Manni Coe and his partner take a risk and buy 'The Corner', a crumbling but beautiful 150-year-old farmstead tucked into a remote valley in Andalusia, surrounded by olive trees. It's perfect for their unconventional family of three: Jack, Manni and his youngest brother, Reuben. Secluded from the village by a river and in awe of the extraordinary Spanish landscape, Manni watches their land teem with mountain goats and wild boar, red deer and seasonal swallows. He begins to feel that this might be the place where each of them will find their peace.

But nothing is ever so simple. Though their hilltop village offers food, fellowship and guidance, many visitors bring their own problems and troubled pasts over the river. While Manni and Jack work to afford rebuilding The Corner, who will care for Reuben in the way that he deserves? And as Manni starts to realise that the scars from his childhood - kept hidden for all these years - might not have healed at all, a single, terrible event threatens everything the three of them have spent so long building together.

From landscape and poetry to family and friendship, Little Ruins is a heart-mending exploration of human connection, nature's gifts and the power of love in all its forms.

Manni Coe grew up in Yorkshire and Berkshire and now lives between Andalusia and Dorset. He works as a private tour guide in both Spain and around the world, and is a registered olive oil farmer who produces extra virgin olive oil. He is the author of the Sunday Times bestselling memoir brother. do. you. love. me.

The Very Reverend Dr Mark Oakley was ordained at St Paul’s Cathedral in 1993 and served his curacy at St John’s Wood Church. Mark holds a PhD in English Literature and is an admired author of several books on poetry and spirituality. Mark was installed as the Dean of Southwark in early December 2023.

Copies of Little Ruins will be on sale on the evening which Manni will be delighted to sign.

The talk will be taking place in the Garry Weston Library on the floor of the Millennium Building. Please contact Emily.Thorne@southwark.anglican.org if you have any access requirements you'd like to discuss.