The acclaimed author of His Dark Materials in conversation with Julia Eccleshare.

In-person tickets for this event are now sold out. Tickets may still be booked to watch the event online on the British Library platform either live or within 48 hours on catch up. Viewing links will be sent out shortly before the event.

Philip Pullman is one of the most highly respected children's authors writing today. Winner of many prestigious awards, including the Carnegie of Carnegies and the Whitbread Award, Pullman’s epic fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials has been acclaimed as a modern classic. It has sold 17.5 million copies worldwide and been translated into 40 languages. In 2005 he was awarded the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award.

Julia Eccleshare is a children's book commentator and critic. She is currently Director, Hay Children's Festival and editorial advisor on children's books for Love Reading. She was formerly children's books editor, The Guardian. Her books include 1001 Children's Books you must read before you grow up and From Beatrix Potter to Harry Potter: Portraits of Children's Writers. She has chaired many prizes including the Guardian Children’s Book Prize and the Branford Boase first novel prize. She was awarded an MBE and a Dlitt (hons) by the University of Worcester for her services to children's books. She is Head of UK Public Lending Right Policy and Engagement at the British Library.

This event accompanies the British Library exhibition Fantasy: Realms of Imagination (27 October 2023 – 25 February 2024) supported by Wayland Games and Unwin Charitable Trust.

Supported by:

With thanks to The B. H. Breslauer Fund of the American Trust for the British Library.

If you’re attending in person, please arrive no later than 15 minutes before the start time of this event.

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