The Contemporaries Research Group is hosting a panel discussion on the state of literary fiction today and its response to the digital revolution on Thursday 14th November 6.30pm in the ENGLISH FACULTY G06/7. Everyone is welcome.

The book trade has always never stood still, has always evolved to survive and thrive, maybe now more than ever.  The transition to digital is very much on-going and is changing the way readers access and consume literature.

But will these changes be good for literary fiction, will they encourage more people to try more challenging fiction or will the temptations of an easier, cheaper read – or of Pinterest/Instagram/Snapchat/blogs/Netflix/Spotify  etc – mean that literary fiction becomes a more minor sport than it has been recently?

A panel featuring Rachel Calder, literary agent and proprietor of the Sayle Literary Agency, Jill Dawson, award-winning author of The Great Lover and Fred and Edie, Carole Welsh, Publishing Director of Sceptre, and Kasia Boddy, academic and book reviewer, will discuss questions of format and pricing of books, choice and control on social media and
online communities, technology, disruption and engagement to try to assess how well literary fiction might fare in the new digital world.

Join in the conversation at http://www.english.cam.ac.uk/research/contemporary/