Discussion: Dreams and Nightmares at Levenshulme Old Library

Discussion group The Mary Quaile Club organises regular events on working class history and its links with contemporary political issues. The next, which will take place in Levenshulme in early October, will look at how 20th century women writers imagined the future. Titled ‘Dreams and Nightmares: Feminist Utopias and Dystopias’, the talk will have two special guest speakers. Una McCormack is a lecturer in creative writing and the author of a many science-fiction novels – including several in the Doctor Who universe. She will be speaking about Katharine Burdekin, who published 10 novels, including the widely-known, anti-fascist dystopia ‘Swastika Night’. Ciara O’Sullivan will discuss two books: ‘Herland’ by Charlotte Gilman Perkins, set in an undiscovered country inhabited only by women; and ‘Woman on the Edge of Time’ by Marge Piercy, about a future society run under the laws of equality. Advance booking is strongly recommended.

Sat 6 Oct, Levenshulme Old Library, 28 Cromwell Grove, Levenshulme, Manchester, M19 3QB, 2pm, FREE (donations accepted), maryquaileclub.wordpress.com