About This Event

What makes a story survive for thousands of years? Why do some myths continue to find their way into the lives, landscapes and imaginations of generations yet to come? Elif Shafak , author of There are Rivers in the Sky, and Poet Laureate Simon Armitage explore the enduring power of Gilgamesh, one of the world’s oldest surviving works of literature. From ancient Mesopotamia to the present day, its themes of friendship, grief, ambition and the search for meaning continue to echo through our stories. In conversation with Daniel Hahn , they uncover the rivers of history and memory that connect ancient and modern worlds, and ask why, even after four millennia, we still recognise ourselves in the oldest stories ever told. There will be a book signing after this event. Get ahead of your Festival reading and visit the Waterstones Cheltenham Literature Festival bookshop and support Cheltenham Festivals with every purchase.

Staying overnight?

Hotels within walking distance of Cheltenham Town Hall.

Frequently asked questions