Porter, Slimani, Ellis and more to headline Southbank Centre’s Spring 2023 Literature Season 

Authors including Bret Easton Ellis, Max Porter and Leïla Slimani have been named on the line-up for the Southbank Centre’s Spring 2023 Literature Season. 

Easton Ellis will be discussing his first novel since 2010, The Shards (Swift Press), on 2nd February, Porter will be giving a reading from his second novel, Shy (Faber & Faber), followed by a discussion about his writing life with actor Ruth Wilson on 2nd April and Slimani will discuss The Scent of Flowers at Night (Coronet) on 23rd April. 

Han Kang will also be celebrating the launch of Greek Lessons (Hamish Hamilton) on 23rd April, activist and model Munroe Bergdorf wil launch her memoir Transitional on 12th February (Bloomsbury Tonic) and Booker Prize-winning author Eleanor Catton will be taking to the Queen Elizabeth Hall stage on 16th March for a London exclusive event discussing her new psychological thriller Birnam Wood (Granta Books). 

The season also marks a new partnership between the Centre and Intelligence Squared, a media company that organises live debates and other cultural events around the world. 

The programme will open with a debate on the possible paths to peace in Ukraine and how to end the war, in “The War in Ukraine: How Does It End?” (23rd March), and the second event in the series deliberates how important economic growth is in reaching a prosperous society. “Can We Have Prosperity Without Growth?” will take place on 12th May. 

Ted Hodgkinson, head of literature and spoken word at the Southbank Centre, said: “We start the year as we mean to go on, with a stellar spring season that brings together iconic authors and poets from around the world with the brightest talents of the next generation.

From life-enhancing encounters with beloved figures from across the arts, to unmissable performances including Max Porter reading scenes from his new novel alongside Ruth Wilson, to a wealth of poetry and spoken word, this is a season with something for everyone. Next year also sees us embark on an exciting new collaboration with Intelligence Squared, jointly curating timely debates on the burning issues of the moment.” Full event listings can be found here.