The English Research Centre invites you to the launch of Alicia Rouverol’s new story collection Granite Rock, published by Bridge House, at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation, on Wednesday, 22 July 2026, at 7pm.
Alicia will be joined by artist Andy Broadey, whose artwork is featured in the collection, and an exhibition of his work will be on display. The event will be hosted by publisher Gill James and facilitated by Scott Thurston.
Attendance is free, though please do register via Eventbrite.
Advance praise for the book:
Atmospheric, intricately observed, these taut, and often tense stories explore identity and belonging in very different ways. Ordinary people’s lives show us again and again that the line between safety and danger is very thin. These are short stories that have a long finish!
Jackie Kay, poet and novelist and the former Makar (National Poet) of Scotland
At the heart of these beautiful stories is a deep search and struggle for belonging in a world full of systems that persist in separating, denigrating, and harming those who do not. Granite Rock does what all good literature does: it gives us the shocking privilege of experiencing lives vastly different from each other and, indeed, our own. We become better people because of it. This is a marvelous collection, and I am better for it.
Sommer Schafer, author of Hope and The Women
We look forward to seeing you there!
