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Amis to debate the novel in Manchester church

20/09/2007

St Ann's Church in central Manchester will host three literary giants who will discuss the state of the novel and literature in general, it has been announced.

Martin Amis, who has been invited to teach creative writing at the University of Manchester, along with Will Self and John Banville, will speak his mind in front of an audience on September 24th.

The debate will be chaired by Dr Kaye Mitchell, who is a member of the university's soon-to-be-opened Centre for New Writing department.

John McAuliffe, the Irish poet who will co-direct the centre, said: "The Centre for New Writing will be one of the world's outstanding places to learn the art of creative writing.

"So it's fitting that these high-calibre writers of international stature will begin our work to explore and research the collaboration between creative and critical writing."

The author of 11 novels, Amis recently said he thinks he "may have something to offer as a teacher" and revealed that it has always been a "quiet ambition" to teach students the craft of writing.