Thursday 13th October

7.30pm – 8.45pm/ £8 (£6)

Birmingham Cathedral, Colmore Row,
Birmingham, B3 2QB

In 2007 a locksmith crazed on junk food exited the McDonald’s on the Wandsworth Road in London and drove his truck straight into Will Self’s car, writing it off. He walked away from that wreck and has never looked back – he was a committed driver for over twenty years, clocking up thousands of miles every year, but what has astonished him since is how little he has missed owning a car.

In this address from the pulpit he aims to convince his audience of the truth of Jean Jacques Rousseau’s observation : that we think at walking pace. Driving, by contrast, is an intrinsically thoughtless undertaking – it is possible to ‘come to’ having driven right across Birmingham quite unconscious, but to do this as a pedestrian would be impossible, such would be the quantity of sights, impressions – thoughts, that we would’ve assimilated. He is not asking everyone to walk away from this evening and abandon their wheels for ever – but he will be asking them to at least consider it.

Join us as Will Self presents his latest novel, Walking To Hollywood this book will be on sale and the event is followed by a book signing. You can also buy your book in advance of this event at the Festival Bookshop which will be located in the Library Foyer for the duration of the Birmingham Book Festival 2011.

Tickets: £8/ £6 concessionary price

Book online or call the Box Office (via MAC)

on 0121 446 3232