Alex Niven (author of The North Will Rise Again), ‘How to Get a Rise out of the North-East: A History of the Future in the Deep North’ + Q&A
Alex Niven (author of The North Will Rise Again)
‘How to Get a Rise out of the North-East: A History of the Future in the Deep North’ + Q&A
Concert Room (first floor), Tyneside Irish Centre
All civil humans are welcome
How did England’s North become a place of lost potential and broken dreams? And what can be done to make it one of the most dynamic and forward-facing places in the world once again? Outlining a modernist history of the North in the last several decades, this talk will try to work out whether there is a such a thing as an essential northern English identity – and more importantly, whether such a thing might be used to renew and revise the ancient, conservative, profoundly regionally unequal set-up of British society. Drawing largely on cultural examples, this talk will explore the double-pull in the northern English imaginary between hubris and fatalism, and suggest that ultimately only a radical overhaul of British governance and cultural geography will allow the North to rise to parity with the South.
Alex Niven grew up in Northumberland. He has written frequently for the Guardian, Tribune and New Statesman, and has also contributed to publications including the New York Times, the Independent, Pitchfork, The Face and Tribune. As well as Folk Opposition (Zero, 2011), he is the author of an instalment in Bloomsbury’s 33 1/3 series (on Definitely Maybe by Oasis (2014)) and New Model Island (Repeater, 2019), a memoir of Englishness and regional identity. His most recent book is The North Will Rise Again (Bloomsbury, 2023). He is currently a Lecturer in English Literature at Newcastle University.
‘How to Get a Rise out of the North-East: A History of the Future in the Deep North’ + Q&A
Concert Room (first floor), Tyneside Irish Centre
All civil humans are welcome
How did England’s North become a place of lost potential and broken dreams? And what can be done to make it one of the most dynamic and forward-facing places in the world once again? Outlining a modernist history of the North in the last several decades, this talk will try to work out whether there is a such a thing as an essential northern English identity – and more importantly, whether such a thing might be used to renew and revise the ancient, conservative, profoundly regionally unequal set-up of British society. Drawing largely on cultural examples, this talk will explore the double-pull in the northern English imaginary between hubris and fatalism, and suggest that ultimately only a radical overhaul of British governance and cultural geography will allow the North to rise to parity with the South.
Alex Niven grew up in Northumberland. He has written frequently for the Guardian, Tribune and New Statesman, and has also contributed to publications including the New York Times, the Independent, Pitchfork, The Face and Tribune. As well as Folk Opposition (Zero, 2011), he is the author of an instalment in Bloomsbury’s 33 1/3 series (on Definitely Maybe by Oasis (2014)) and New Model Island (Repeater, 2019), a memoir of Englishness and regional identity. His most recent book is The North Will Rise Again (Bloomsbury, 2023). He is currently a Lecturer in English Literature at Newcastle University.
Event Dates
| Date | Available Ticket Types | Ticket Price | Book Tickets |
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13th March 2025, 7:30pm |
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| Book Now |
