Writers in Conversation with Prize-Winning Author Carys Davies

Carys Davies's prize-winning novel, CLEAR, centres around Ivar, a Scottish man in the 1840s who stubbornly stays alone on his island home when it is cleared. When he rescues the impoverished minister who literally falls into his life - a man he does not know was sent to evict him - they forge a fragile friendship despite not sharing a language. In our current climate, a time fraught with growing political and economic divisions, this is a novel worthy of our attention.

At this event, Davies will talk to author and Southampton associate professor Carole Burns - and you will have a chance to ask questions yourself - in this special festival Writers in Conversation event.

CLEAR is the winner of the Royal Society of Literature Michael Ondaatje Prize and the 2025 Wales Book of the Year Award. Davies, the author of two other novels and two story collections, has also won awards for those books including the Frank O'Connor International Story Award.

Carole Burns, prize-winning author of the novel THE SAME COUNTRY, teaches Creative Writing as an associate professor of English at the University of Southampton, where she also directs the Writers in Conversation reading series.

Platforms (links to the livestream will be available in your email reminders sent via Eventbrite):

• YouTube Live (UoS Festival, Writers in Conversation)
• Facebook Live (UoS Engagement)

Suitability: 16+ years-old

This event is organised by the Carole Burns and is taking place as part of Southampton Arts and Humanities Festival, 6th-15th November 2025.

Please contact the event organiser through festival@soton.ac.uk if you have any questions regarding the event you are booking.

Visit the Southampton Arts and Humanities Festival's official website at www.southamptonartshumfest.co.uk to find out the full programme of live events and activities.

You can also follow #UoSArtsHumFest on social media to stay up to date with upcoming events and resources.