Angela Carter – who studied at the University of Bristol and lived in the city for nearly a decade – is widely acknowledged as one of the most important and beguiling writers of the last century. Her work stands out for its bawdiness and linguistic zest, its hospitality to the fantastic and the absurd and its extraordinary inventiveness and range. Her life was as modern and as unconventional as anything in her fiction. By the time of her tragic and untimely death at the age of fifty-one, she was firmly established as an iconoclastic writer whose fearlessly original work had reinvigorated the literary landscape and inspired a new generation.

Edmund Gordon tells the story of how Angela Carter invented herself – as a new kind of woman and a new kind of writer – and how she came to write such seductive works as The Bloody Chamber, Nights at the Circus and Wise Children. He has followed in Carter’s footsteps to uncover a life rich in incident and adventure. With unrestricted access to her manuscripts, letters and journals and informed by dozens of interviews with her friends and family, he offers a definitive portrait of one of the most distinctive literary voices of the last 100 years.

He will be in conversation with Christopher Frayling.

Please note that you will be asked of proof for your eligibility of a concession ticket. Concessions apply to Full Time Students, Job Seekers Allowance, Incapacity Benefit claimants, over 60s and disabled people. The Partner Rate applies to those working at the following organisations: Arts Council, Bristol City Council, Businesswest, University of Bristol and UWE. Please note that no refunds/exchanges are possible for tickets already purchased at the higher price.

Please ensure you use the correct email address. This is where your ticket will be sent. If you do not provide the correct address, you will not receive the acknowledgement email or ticket. You must bring your ticket with you to gain entry.

Please note we only refund tickets if the event is cancelled. Events start punctually and, out of consideration to other audience members and speakers, our policy is not to admit or issue refunds to latecomers.

Audience data will be shared with Waterstones. You may receive details of other events run by them.

The Festival of Ideas endeavours to hold its events in venues that are accessible to all, but if you have specific access concerns it is advisable to contact the venue direct. There is no loop system at Waterstones. There are toilet facilities in store.