Rough Trade Books Presents… is a new series of events exploring contemporary topics in an atmosphere of idea exchange, conversation, and connection. Brought to you by Exeter UNESCO City of Literature, Devon & Exeter Institution, and Rough Trade Books.
Rough Trade Books author Musa Okwonga will be in conversation with D-M Withers, discussing socio-political issues in football, living multiple lives/identities, conservatism & power in private education, grappling with perfectionism & competitiveness personally/professionally, and the alienation & mask-wearing of being Black in white spaces.
If a BSL interpreter would make this event accessible to you, please contact us and we will provide one.
Cost: Pay What You Can Afford*
Bookbag bookshop will be selling books at DEI before and after the event.
Musa Okwonga is a writer, broadcaster and musician. The co-host of the Stadio football podcast, he has published one collection of poetry and three books about football, the first of which, A Cultured Left Foot, was nominated for the 2008 William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award. Recent publications include: In The End, It Was All About Love (Rough Trade, 2021), a memoir set in Berlin; One of Them (Unbound, 2021), a memoir about his five years at Eton College; and Striking Out (Scholastic, 2021), a children’s novel written in collaboration with and based on the life of Ian Wright. Musa’s work has appeared in various outlets, including Africa Is A Country, The Byline Times, The Guardian, The New York Times, The Economist and The Ringer. He lives in Berlin.
D-M Withers is Lecturer in Publishing at the University of Exeter.
Accessibility Statement:
Wheelchair access
The main entrance to the DEI, (facing the Cathedral), has double doors, and is accessible for most wheelchairs. From this entrance there is level access to the foyer, and to the inner and outer libraries. We apologise for the current lack of lift access to the South Range rooms on the second floor.
Please note that from Monday 5th June we will be unable to offer parking as the building work for our Next Chapter project commences. This work will allow us to be more accessible in the future. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank you for bearing with us during this phase of transition. Information on nearby parking at the Princesshay Shopping Centre can be found here
Toilets
There are toilets on site, though the nearest fully accessible Changing Places toilet can be found in the Princesshay Shopping Centre, at the back of Nationwide. More information about these facilities can be found on the Princesshay website here
Defibrillators
Our nearest public access defibrillators can be found just inside the main entrance of the Guildhall Shopping Centre, or on Bampfylde Lane in the Princesshay Shopping Centre, to the left of Chandos Deli.
Sensory information
The library is usually a quiet space, though can be louder during events. A timetable for events can be found on the website. If you require a quieter space, please ask a member of staff. There is likely to be additional noise during our current building works.
If sounded, the fire alarm makes a repeated sound of two tones, and flashing lights will go off in the reading room and the toilets. On an ordinary day, ringing phones and door buzzers might also be heard.
Lighting is soft throughout the building, and may be low in certain areas.
Assistance dogs are welcome, and staff will be happy to provide water for your dog.