Newcastle Book Festival 2025

Newcastle’s annual book festival Books on Tyne is happening over this next week, and we’re here to tell you what’s on.

Happening from November 22 to November 29, they offer a programme full of writers from Tyne and Wear and beyond who deliver talks and events based around books. It is taking place at The Lit & Phil and the City Library, different events are at the different venues throughout the week.

This is the 13th year that the festival has been happening. This year they are including events on many subject areas so that anyone can get involved. From the history of the World Cup to Newcastle Prison to the tragedy of the Sycamore Gap.

The programme includes:

• Newcastle Prison: A History 1828 -1925:

Hear from the authors (Patrick Low, Shane McCorristine, Helen Rutherford and Clare Sandford-Couch) about the prison that used to be in Newcastle City Centre on November 22 at 11am at City Library. Tickets are free, get them below.

• Equal Arts (Dorothy Wordsworth’s Grasmere Days by Sarah Lawrance):

Hear why shared reading is beneficial for living with people with dementia on November 24 at 11am at City Library. Tickets are free, get them below.

• Pathfinding. On Walking, Motherhood and Freedom:

Hear how Kerri Andrews rediscovers herself through walking after becoming a mother on November 24 at 6pm at The Lit & Phil. Tickets are £3, buy them below.

Kerri said: “I’m delighted to be at the Lit and Phil to talk about my book, Pathfinding, as part of the Books on Tyne festival. The book is a deeply personal exploration of the difficulties of early motherhood, and the companionship I found through walking with other mothers and walkers, past and present, who struggled as I was. I love the Lit and Phil, so to be able to talk there about a book and an experience that are so important to me is a privilege.”

• Defined by stones: 50 Extraordinary Rocky Places that Connect our Prehistoric Ancestors to Northern Landscapes:

Hear from Ian Jackson about the evolution of stones in Northumberland on November 25 at 11am at City Library. Tickets are £3, buy them below.

• Craftland:

Hear Dr. James and James Routledge from Opt Indie Books talk about the vanishing trades of Britain on November 26 at 2pm at City Library. Tickets are £7, buy them below.

• Best Shot: How to Get Published:

Hear advice from Sheila Wakefield on how to maximise your chances of being published on November 26 at 7pm at The Lit & Phil. Tickets are free, get them below.

• Pursued by Bulldozers:

Hear Brian Rankin keep Charlie Roger’s legacy alive through talking about his life and work following the recently found paintings from Charlie on November 27 at 2pm at City Library. Tickets are free, get them below.

Brian said: “In February 2023 I discovered the collection of paintings and sketches Tyneside artist Charlie Rogers left behind following his passing in 2020, an early victim of the Covid virus. The ‘Unknown Collection’ is now recognised as one of the most important record of everyday life in the north of England. Charlie is now regarded as one of the most important northern artists of the twentieth century. My talk will reveal how Charlie’s legacy has been saved and future plans to promote his wonderful story now being embraced by our schoolchildren.”

• The Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz: a story of survival:

Hear Anne Sebba tell stories of key characters in the orchestra and discuss morals related to women performing to the Nazis on November 27 at 6pm at The Lit & Phil. Tickets are £5, buy them below.

Anne said: “I am really excited to speak in Newcastle because I was drawn to the story of the women’s orchestra once I finally researched the story of my father (Major) Eric Rubinstein who was born in Newcastle and retained a fondness for the city until he died in 1996. My father was in the Royal Tank Regiment and then the 31^st armoured brigade which entered Belsen after liberation and the remnants of the women’s orchestra were also in Belsen then as they were transferred by the Nazis at the end of the war from Auschwitz. I am convinced my father must have met these women or crossed paths with them at least but I will tell more about this in my talk.”

• Between the Salt and the Ash:

Hear Jake Morris-Campbell talk about the shifting nature of individual and regional identity across years of social change on November 27 at 7:30pm at The Lit & Phil. Tickets are £5, buy them below.

• The Power and the Glory: A New History of the World Cup:

Hear Guardian football journalist Jonathan Wilson and Professor Brian Ward discuss an updated history of the World Cup on November 28 at 2pm at City Library. Tickets are, £7, buy them below.

• On Sycamore Gap – Words and music of loss, hope and renewal:

Watch poet Kate Fox and musicians Staithe (Bridie Jackson and Nick Pierce) perform a piece about the recent vandalism of the Sycamore tree on November 28 at 7pm at The Lit & Phil. Tickets are £9 for normal entry, or £7 for under 18s, 60+, registered disabled and students, buy them below.

• Helm:

Hear Sarah Hall talk with James Routledge from Opt Indie books about the relationship between nature and people on November 29 at 11am at City Library. Tickets are £7, buy them below.

• Stories from the Middle of the World:

Hear David Almond talk about his books, his life and his writing process on November 29 at 11am at The Lit & Phil. Tickets are free, get them below.

Locations:

City Library: 33 New bridge Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8AX

The Lit & Phil: 23 Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1SE

Find more information here: Books On Tyne

Book tickets here: Eventbrite