Speaking Volumes

Speaking Volumes is a live literature organisation specialising in getting underrepresented voices heard, reaching diverse audiences and finding exciting ways to present the work of writers.

Not Quite Right For Us

To mark our 10th birthday, Speaking Volumes is publishing an anthology of forty writers whose work challenges the mainstream responding to the theme ‘Not Quite Right For Us’ – find out more here.

Anthony Joseph: The Frequency of Magic

Over a number of in-person events, Anthony Joseph performs the entirety of his novel, The Frequency of Magic, with live improvised jazz, accompanied by some of the UK’s finest musicians.

Find out where you can see him here

Watch the writers who are part of the anthology give a taste of their work and the overall themes of the book.

New and Current Projects

  • Crop of the Breaking New Ground booklet cover

Find out what we are currently working on and what is coming up.

Epic Conversation: Bernardine Evaristo and Roger Robinson

For the final event of the A Portable Paradise Tour, TS Eliot Prize winner Roger Robinson was interviewed by Booker Prize winner Bernardine Evaristo. This Epic Conversation took place at the Black Cultural Archives in Brixton, with a special invited audience of established and emerging writers, producers and supporters who have been part of Roger’s journey to his book and who he wanted to celebrate with. This is a short extract bt you can watch the full conversation here.

Past Projects

Linton Kwesi Johnson

About Us

Meet the Team

It's time for another Not Quite Right For Us one-line excerpt! This week we have @laniyuk's incredibly moving piece '97% Cotton'⁠ about colonialism, holding true to one's values and being able to meet your own gaze in the mirror.⁠⁠ Make sure you're registered for the Not Quite Right For Us event on 14th October at 6pm, as part of #WordOnline from Literature Works!⁠⁠ A couple of days ago, we shared a snippet from @mrmakoha's essay about life-changing moments.⁠⁠ Mini Not Quite Right For Us excerpt time! Today we're highlighting @mrmakoha's deeply powerful essay 'The Days the World Stood Still' about COVID-19, systemic racism and life-changing moments.⁠⁠ EVENT NEWS! We're very excited to be part of @ilkleylitfest on FRIDAY 1ST OCTOBER with a new film from Not Quite Right For Us.⁠⁠ Yesterday we shared a very short excerpt from @catherinerebeccajohnson's piece in Not Quite Right For Us, a personal essay called 'Hey! Coffee!' Now here's all about her!⁠⁠ Time for another very-mini-excerpt from our anthology #NotQuiteRightForUs! In the lead up to our live, in-person event @charlestontrust on 4th September, we're featuring the three writers from Not Quite Right For Us taking part in this panel of readings and conversation.⁠⁠ Yesterday we shared a small snippet from @colincraiggrant's essay 'The Invitation' found in Not Quite Right For Us. We've already told you a bit about Colin in a previous post, but couldn't resist featuring his smiley face with a copy of the book!⁠⁠ Time for another very-mini-excerpt from our anthology #NotQuiteRightForUs! In the lead up to our live, in-person event @charlestontrust on 4th September, we're featuring the three writers from Not Quite Right For Us taking part in this panel of readings and conversation.⁠⁠

Copyright Speaking Volumes – All rights reserved