How do contemporary British novelists write about men? What does fiction reveal about masculinity in crisis, masculinity in transformation, and masculinity as it is actually lived and felt? Three writers whose fiction circles this territory from very different angles come together for a rich, probing panel discussion moderated by Danielle Patrick.
 
From Cécile Pin's exploration of male vulnerability and grief, to Nicolas Padamsee's interrogation of identity and belonging, to Ashley Hickson-Lovence's lyrical depiction of Black British manhood - this is a conversation about literature, society and what it means to be a man in Britain today.
 
Venue: Unitarian Meeting House
Format: Panel Discussion & Q&A
Themes: Fiction, Literary, Book Club, Health & Wellbeing
Access: Live Captioning
 
Cécile Pin Books: Celestial Lights, Wandering Souls
Cecile Pin is a London-based writer. She’s been longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, the Prix Femina Etranger, and shortlisted for the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize. She has won the Fragonard Prize for Foreign Literature, a Somerset Maugham Award, and a London Writers' Award. In 2025, she was selected as one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Europe.
 
Nicolas Padamsee Books: England Is Mine
Nicolas Padamsee is the author of England Is Mine, which was selected as an Observer best debut novel, shortlisted for the Betty Trask Prize and longlisted for the Gordon Burn Prize. He holds an MA and PhD in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia. He grew up in Essex and now splits his time between Norwich and Upton Park, London.' 50-WORD VERSION: 'Nicolas Padamsee is the author of England Is Mine, which was selected as an Observer best debut novel, shortlisted for the Betty Trask Prize and longlisted for the Gordon Burn Prize. He holds an MA and PhD in Creative Writing from UEA. He lives in Norwich.
 
Ashley Hickson-Lovence Books: About to Fall Apart, Why I Am Not a Bus Driver, Wild East, Your Show, The 392
Ashley Hickson-Lovence is the author of the acclaimed novels The 392, Your Show and Wild East, overall winner of the East Anglian Book Awards 2024 and the YA winner of the Diverse Book Awards 2025. His poetry collection Why I Am Not a Bus Driver has been shortlisted for the Jhalak Poetry Prize and includes the poem “Munster Road,” highly commended for Best Single Poem at the Forward Prize. He holds a PhD in Creative and Critical Writing from the University of East Anglia and was nominated for the Black Excellence Award for Outstanding Contribution to Literature in 2023. His latest novel, About To Fall Apart, was published by Faber in April. Ashley is an Honorary Patron of Bury St Edmunds Literature Festival.
 
Danielle Patrick
Danielle (Dani) works as the Head of Operations for the Cambridge Literary Festival, leading on their finance work, digital strategy, and event operations. She has a degree in English Literature and Theatre, and reviews books on Instagram (@whatdanireads_) where she regularly works with publishers and authors on campaigns to share and promote new releases. Dani is part of the organising committee for Bury St Edmunds Literature Festival.