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Location, location, location. This holds not just for the property market but also in literature, where it is an essential element of a good story. The Passa Porta Festival is a case in point: there will be various literary walks on offer, and a fascinating exhibition at Muntpunt on the European Literary Map of London drawn up by University College London. We are also bringing two authors together who have their own special approach when it comes to location.
you are here
In David Nicholls’ new book, the main characters Marnie and Michael walk from coast to coast in the north of England along a footpath that actually exists, so you can literally follow in the footsteps of his characters. Some of the locations from his bestseller One Day can be found on the city of Edinburgh’s tourism website, and you can visit them with book in hand. When you read a David Nicholls novel, you really know where you are.
everywhere and nowhere
Not so with Peter Terrin. His latest novel, Nog lang geen winter, is set in a city with bridges, a Jewish quarter, and other places that seem familiar but which, like the city itself, remain unnamed. In almost all of his novels, the setting remains vague. How fictional are the places in Terrin’s work, and why doesn’t he name them?
University College London
Inspired by the interactive European Literary Map of London developed by UCL, we want to launch the creation of a literary map of Brussels with input from our Passa Porta Festival visitors. During the festival, you can visit the UCL exhibition on their London map at Muntpunt. Prof. Uta Staiger will cross from London to moderate this conversation with David Nicholls and Peter Terrin.
about the authors
David Nicholls worked as a bookseller and actor before he began writing scripts for TV series, including the acclaimed Cold Feet. He lives in London with his wife and children, and has written six novels, including One Day, Us and You Are Here.
Peter Terrin is an acclaimed Flemish author of plays, short stories and novels. He has received nominations and awards for such novels as De bewaker, Post Mortem, Monte Carlo and Al het blauw. Nog lang geen winter was published in January 2025. Terrin’s work has been translated into more than fifteen languages.
about the moderator
Uta Staiger is Associate Professor of European Studies, Director of the European Institute, and Global Strategic Academic Advisor (Europe) at UCL. Her research and teaching sits at the intersection of modern European thought, culture, and politics. She is co-editor of the UCL Press FRINGE series, a Senior Fellow of the Centre for Britain and Europe at the University of Surrey, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts.
Organisation: Passa Porta, University College London
Pictures: David Nicholls © Sophia Spring, Peter Terrin © Josefien Tondeleir,Uta Staiger © UCL European Institute
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