Who? The intellectual and literary salon – an Italian invention of the 16th century which flourished in France throughout the 17th and 18th centuries – is recreated tonight in the thoroughly 21st century surroundings of Manero’s on the Kingsland Road. While ribboned corsets and powdered wigs will be in short supply, the event follows in the footprints of those earlier salons with similar aims to please and educate, only with rather more battered leather sofas and beer.
What? The brainchild of the upcoming literary journal A Tale of Three Cities, and following on from the success of similar events in Paris and Berlin, the Book Swap at Manero’s calls for ‘sexy intellectuals’ to bring along a favourite book, discuss it, drink cocktails and leave with an as yet undiscovered gem.
Why? This is a party to celebrate the exchange of tangible objects and opinions exchanged face-to-face, so rare in lives now dominated by communication via email and views expressed through Youtube clips. Concerned by the increasing omnipresence of the internet and the rapid encroachment of the Kindle, A Tale of Three Cities has launched their monthly book swaps as an expression of their Solidist Manifesto, affirming their belief that ‘Ink is where it’s at'. Ahead of the event, AnOther has collated a selection of favourite novels.
The Book Swap at Manero's takes place tonight, Thursday August 11, at Manero's Bar, 232 Kingsland Road, E2 8AX. The first edition of A Tale of Three Cities will be published in September.
Text by Tish Wrigley
