Literary exhibition: Savoy’s The Use and Abuse of Books at IABF

In his lifetime, writer Anthony Burgess was no stranger to controversy, so it is fitting that his Foundation at Chorlton Mill is hosting a retrospective on the careers of one of the city’s most divisive literary figures, Michael Butterworth. He was founder of the Savoy publishing house, responsible for a number of contentious titles, including 1989’s Lord Horror, the last book to be banned under the Obscene Publications Act. For the exhibition, Savoy are opening up their archives – with rare glimpses into a back catalogue of prose, graphic novels, comics and promotional literature with artwork from artists such as John Coulthart, Kris Guidio and James Cawthorn. There will also be a series of short films screened throughout the exhibition’s life cycle. Material from Savoy’s latest venture, the writing journal Corridor8 will also be on display. With a taste for uncompromising and brutal imagery in the name of satire, the exhibition looks at what’s acceptable and justifiable on the page. There’s a charming cafe to explore too.

Fri 15 Aug – Fri 5 Sep, preview Thu 14 Aug (6pm-8pm, FREE), International Anthony Burgess Foundation, Engine House, Chorlton Mill, 3 Cambridge Street, M1 5BY, times vary, FREE, www.anthonyburgess.org + www.lifeanduseofbooks.org