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Thank you to our 2019 Associate Partners
We are delighted to announce our Associate Sponsors for the 2019 Off the Shelf literary festival
Read moreTickets on sale 30 August
We are delighted to announce that the brochure for Off the Shelf and tickets for 2019 will be released for general sale on 30 August.
Read moreBlog: Slow Travel in the Peak District
A blog post about Slow Travel in the Peak District.
Read more2019 Northern Book Prize – Judges announced
Sarah Moss (author of The Tidal Zone) and Fiona Mozley (Man Booker shortlisted author of Elmet) as judges for the 2019 Northern Book Prize.
Read moreEvan Davis, Post Truth – 11 October
Evan Davis presented his talk about his book to a packed Octagon auditorium on 11 October and then took some challenging questions from the audience.
Read moreGina Miller, Rise – Tuesday 9 October
We welcomed Gina Miller to Off the Shelf on Tuesday 9 October. Interviewed by broadcaster and writer, Paul Allen, Gina talked through key messages from her book.
Read moreMary Shelley and her Frankenstein
From the stage to the page don't miss Award Winning Playwright Hattie Naylor's latest adaptation.
Read moreOpening Weekend
As the festival gets underway, we wanted to share some highlights from our opening weekend.
Read moreWomen’s Suffrage Tour of Sheffield
On 6th February 1918, after decades of struggle, the Representation of the People Act finally gave the vote to some women – specifically those over the age of 30
Read moreFlying High!
Rebecca Truman launched the Circus strand of the festival on Saturday 6 October with her fascinating illustrated in conversation event on about her book.
Read moreOrla Kiely Event Cancelled
We are sorry to announce that, due to circumstances beyond our control, the event with Orla Kiely on Thursday 25 October at 7.30pm has been cancelled.
Read moreOff the Shelf film screenings
Following the success of screenings for last year's Off The Shelf, the Humanities department at Sheffield Hallam University have curated another trio of films.
Read moreWelcome to Off the Shelf 2018
Welcome to Off the Shelf 2018. Join us for some of the best known names in literature, media and the arts.
Read moreAssociate Partner – Hospitality Sheffield
Find out about our Associate Partner, Hospitality Sheffield.
Read moreAssociate Partner – South Street Kitchen
Find out about our Associate Partner, South Street Kitchen.
Read moreAssociate Partner – Daybell & Choo Opticians
Find out about our Associate Partner, Daybell & Choo Opticians.
Read moreOur best moments from Off the Shelf 2017
It's been a fantastic year for Off the Shelf, with more people than ever before coming to our events and celebrating words and ideas.
Read moreStudent blog: Adam Kay
Our student blogger Maja reviews Adam Kay's talk about his hilarious, heartbreaking and thought-provoking book, This Is Going to Hurt.
Read moreA message from Brian Blessed
We asked Brian for a message to close Off the Shelf 2017. Here's what he had to say...
Read moreStudent blog: Jo Peel
Our student blogger Chandni reviews a talk by Sheffield street artist Jo Peel.
Read moreStudent blog: Lee Child
Our student blogger Arinola reviews Lee Child's talk at Off the Shelf 2017.
Read moreStudent blog: Anne Boleyn: A King’s Obsession
Was Anne Boleyn a proto-feminist icon? Our student blogger Bridget reviews Alison Weir's talk.
Read moreStudent blog: Julianne Pachico
Our student blogger Chandni reviews a talk by author and Sheffield Hallam University lecturer Julianne Pachico.
Read moreStudent blog: Remain/Leave
Our student blogger Danielle reviews a talk by the photographer Jeremy Abrahams.
Read moreStudent blog: Robert Webb
Our student blogger Maja reviews Robert Webb's talk about the absurd expectations thrust upon boys and men.
Read moreStudent blog: Grit
Student blogger Maja McGill reviews the storytelling night at Off the Shelf 2017.
Read moreSara Khan — The Battle for British Islam
Sara talked about her book The Battle for British Islam to an engaged audience at Off the Shelf 2017.
Read moreJohn O’Farrell at Off the Shelf 2017
John O'Farrell talks about his book Things Can Only Get Worse.
Read moreLaurie Penny discusses some of her most influential books
Laurie spoke at Off the Shelf 2017 about her book Bitch Doctrine. She also told us about some of the books that have influenced her the most.
Read moreJacques Peretti speaks about his influences and his book DONE
Jacques Peretti talks about his book DONE: The Secret Deals That Are Changing Our World. He also speaks to us about books that have influenced him.
Read moreKarl Byrne — The Science of Star Wars
Karl is a communicator of science and travels the world talking about it.
Read moreTim Dowling discusses his new book
Tim Dowling was discussing his new book Dad You Suck at University of Sheffield's Auditorium.
Read moreStudent blog: Jenni Murray: A History of Britain in 21 Women
Our student blogger Danielle reviews Jenni Murray's A History of Britain in 21 Women.
Read moreMike Braddick — God’s Fury, England’s Fire
Mike Braddick curated the radical strand to this year’s festival. He talks about his book God’s Fury, England’s Fire.
Read moreWatch Hollie McNish perform a poem from her book Plum
Watch Hollie McNish perform a poem from her book Plum. Hollie performed at Off the Shelf 2017 alongside Matt Abbott.
Read moreBlowers bowled over by bake off
Cricket commentating royalty Henry 'Blowers' Blofeld was left stumped when presented with a commemorative cake by Sheffield Hallam University students.
Read moreStudent blog: The Golden Age of Detective Fiction
Our student blogger Bridget reviews a talk on The Golden Age of Detective Fiction.
Read moreLee Child shares his love for Sheffield at Off the Shelf 2017
Lee Child talked to fans about his newest Jack Reacher title, The Midnight Line, at Sheffield City Hall for Off the Shelf Festival 2017.
Read moreStudent blog: Clinton Woods
Our student blogger Chandni reviews the festival's in conversation event with Clinton Woods.
Read moreHere’s what some of our great guests have been saying
So it’s been a fabulous festival so far – here’s what some of our great guests have been saying…
Read moreMichael Rosen praises literary festivals
Michael Rosen talks about the importance of reading and literary festivals.
Read moreOff the Shelf competition for schools
Off the Shelf is running a competition for schools in conjunction with the Sheffield Star as part of their Reading Campaign.
Read moreOur top picks for Off the Shelf 2017
The festival team talk about the events they're looking forward to at Off the Shelf 2017.
Read moreWin tickets to Two Stories – Mark Haddon
To celebrate the centenary of the first publication of The Mark on the Wall by Virginia Woolf, Mark Haddon has written a new story, St Bride’s Bay.
Read moreAnd Other Stories launches new Northern Book Prize
And Other Stories celebrates its arrival in Sheffield with the launch of a new book prize in partnership with New Writing North.
Read moreTagore and Freedom – a Sheffield celebration
This being the UK-India Year of Culture, it is fitting that this year's festival opens with an exciting programme celebrating Tagore’s rich and diverse legacy.
Read moreOff the Shelf celebrates a new golden age of crime writing
I am delighted that we have been able to curate a crime theme for this year’s Off the Shelf Festival of Words.
Read moreOff the Shelf film screenings
This year's festival has three broad thematic strands: crime, radicalism and India. To complement this, we will be screening films throughout the festival.
Read moreWelcome to this year’s festival
We hope you enjoy our new curatorial approach covering themes such as radicalism, crime and India, and a new community focus starting with Somali culture.
Read moreI Made This by Chris Bush
In 2016, Sheffield celebrated a Year of Making and the playwright Chris Bush was commissioned to write a poem about the city and making.
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