Skip to content
  • Common Currency
  • Campaigns
    • PENWrites
    • Writers at Risk
    • Writers in Residence
    • Free speech in the UK
  • News
  • Events
  • Translation
    • PEN Translates
    • PEN Transmissions
    • International Translation Day
    • The World Bookshelf
      • Books
      • Authors
      • Translators
    • PEN Presents
      • Issues
      • Books
      • Apply to PEN Presents
  • Prizes
    • PEN Pinter Prize
    • PEN Hessell-Tiltman Prize
  • Donate
  • Join
Home > Event > AC Grayling to deliver 2016 PEN HG Wells lecture at Edinburgh International Book Festival

AC Grayling to deliver 2016 PEN HG Wells lecture at Edinburgh International Book Festival

Philosopher AC Grayling will deliver the PEN HG Wells lecture at Edinburgh International Book Festival at 12.30pm on Sunday 14 August, the third in a series of annual lectures held in honour of former PEN president, author, visionary and human rights campaigner HG Wells. 2016 is the 150th anniversary of Wells’s birth. AC Grayling will explore how Wells as scientist and novelist was able to make literary use of science.

HG Wells foresaw the creation of the worldwide web, most particularly in a series of talks and essays which he first published in 1936 under the title World Brain. The PEN HG Wells lecture showcases visionary writing and new thinking that embody Wells’s interests.

AC Grayling said:

I am looking forward to discussing the example set by HG Wells on the various and fruitful relationships there can be between science and literature.

Jo Glanville, Director of English PEN, said:

HG Wells pioneered PEN’s active engagement in support of human rights and the breadth of his interests united literature, science, technology and politics. His range as a writer and humanitarian remains a model for English PEN’s activities today. We very much look forward to AC Grayling’s lecture which will go to the heart of Wells’s preoccupations and his legacy

Nick Barley, Director of Edinburgh International Book Festival, said:

We are proud to host the PEN HG Wells lecture again this year, and believe that AC Grayling is the perfect choice to examine the intellectual legacy of this extraordinary, visionary, complex and sometimes controversial man.

£8.00 students and Plus Cardholders, including a drink

Share

1edinburgh1Edinburgh International Book Festival1HG Wells1Jo Glanville1Nick Barley1PEN/HG Wells lecture1Scotland

Join our mailing list

Sign up to receive the latest English PEN news and events.

SIGN UP
  • About
  • Privacy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Partners
  • Jobs
  • Contact us

With thanks to our Core Funders

©1921 - 2023

English PEN is a company limited by guarantee number 5747142 (England & Wales) and a registered charity, number 1125610.

We use cookies to help us improve your experience on our website. By closing this notification or interacting with the website you agree to our use of cookies. ACCEPT Find out more
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT