
Louis de Bernières: On new memoir Smelling of Rooks.
Sat 24 Oct · 15:00
The Portico Library
Venue events →
10°C · 100% rain
Rain very likely — waterproofs, not just a brolly.
Ask AI: is it for me?
Similar events
View allAbout This Event
Louis de Bernières celebrates his new memoir Smelling of Rooks with readings and a Q&A at The Portico Library in Manchester on 24 October 2026. He will also perform brief acoustic songs during the literary event.
Join best-selling author Louis de Bernières (Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Birds Without Wings) to celebrate his new memoir, Smelling of Rooks
Louis will be reading from his new book Smelling of Rooks, followed by an audience Q&A, and a book signing. He’ll also perform a brief acoustic song or two!
Drawn from Louis de Bernières’s hugely popular Facebook posts written between 2015 and 2024, Smelling of Rooks gathers a decade of reflections, anecdotes and observations on everything from music, cats and motorcycles to politics, parenting and the perils of social media. It is a book about the texture of ordinary days, told with the warmth, eccentricity and mischief that have made de Bernières one of Britain’s most beloved storytellers.
Set against the rolling fields and modest peaks of what he calls the ‘Norfolk Alps’, this accidental memoir captures a writer at ease with his life, his readers and his absurdities. There are riffs on the pleasures of cooking and DIY, portraits of friends and neighbours, the escapades of his children, and the unpredictable joys of country living.
At once funny, tender and defiantly unfiltered, Smelling of Rooks shows Louis de Bernières as he really is – reflective, unpretentious and gloriously human. A celebration of family, friendship and the small wonders of daily life, it is a book to dip into, laugh with, and treasure.
Description supplied by the event organiser.
Staying overnight?
Hotels within walking distance of The Portico Library.
Ad · Stay22 affiliate link
Similar Events in Manchester
View all →
Sun, 1 Nov 2026
Therapy Sessions - Pip Millett in conversation with Nemone Metaxas
Renae
Free Entry

Thu, 5 Nov 2026
HEX HOUSE: Amy Jane Stewart in conversation with Heidi Hinda Chadwick
Blackwell's Bookshop
From £5

Fri, 6 Nov 2026
John Gwynne in conversation with Hannah Kaner - Manchester
Waterstones
From £6

Sun, 15 Nov 2026
Gary Shearston’s Dingo: Author Peter Mills in conversation with Ryan Walker
INNSIDE Manchester
From £8.83

Sun, 15 Nov 2026
The Story of The Slits: Zoë Howe in conversation with Helen McCookerybook
INNSIDE Manchester
From £11

Sun, 15 Nov 2026
IRVINE WELSH Can Nothing Save Us? In conversation with JOHN ROBB
INNSIDE Manchester
From £20.21
More at The Portico Library
View all →
Sat, 24 Oct 2026
Femina Cupla: Poetry Reading
The Portico Library
£6.13

Thu, 29 Oct 2026
Portico Ubuntu: Diaspora Dine & Discussion
The Portico Library
£44.04

Tue, 3 Nov 2026
An Evening of Frederick Cowles with Robert Lloyd Parry
The Portico Library
From £11.55

Fri, 6 Nov 2026
Mother Earth | Myths & Realities
The Portico Library
£6.13

Sat, 7 Nov 2026
Literary Afternoon Tea: We Have Always Lived in the Castle
The Portico Library
£42.96

Sat, 7 Nov 2026
Witches & The Epic Feminine
The Portico Library
From £6.13
Frequently asked questions
Louis de Bernières: On new memoir Smelling of Rooks. takes place on Saturday, 24 October 2026 at 15:00.
Louis de Bernières: On new memoir Smelling of Rooks. is held at The Portico Library in Manchester (57 Mosley Street, Manchester, M2 3HY).
Tickets for Louis de Bernières: On new memoir Smelling of Rooks. are priced at £6.13. Live prices and availability are shown on Eventbrite.
The forecast for Louis de Bernières: On new memoir Smelling of Rooks. is Light rain · 10°C. Rain very likely — waterproofs, not just a brolly.
Yes — hotels within walking distance of The Portico Library can be compared using the accommodation search further down this page.
Tickets for Louis de Bernières: On new memoir Smelling of Rooks. can be booked via Eventbrite using the "Check Tickets & Live Prices" button on this page, which opens the official booking site in a new tab.
Louis de Bernières: On new memoir Smelling of Rooks.
Editorial summaryAbout this event
Louis de Bernières celebrates his new memoir Smelling of Rooks with readings and a Q&A at The Portico Library in Manchester on 24 October 2026. He will also perform brief acoustic songs during the literary event.
This summary was automatically generated from event data sourced from official ticketing providers.
Join best-selling author Louis de Bernières (Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Birds Without Wings) to celebrate his new memoir, Smelling of Rooks
Louis will be reading from his new book Smelling of Rooks, followed by an audience Q&A, and a book signing. He’ll also perform a brief acoustic song or two!
Drawn from Louis de Bernières’s hugely popular Facebook posts written between 2015 and 2024, Smelling of Rooks gathers a decade of reflections, anecdotes and observations on everything from music, cats and motorcycles to politics, parenting and the perils of social media. It is a book about the texture of ordinary days, told with the warmth, eccentricity and mischief that have made de Bernières one of Britain’s most beloved storytellers.
Set against the rolling fields and modest peaks of what he calls the ‘Norfolk Alps’, this accidental memoir captures a writer at ease with his life, his readers and his absurdities. There are riffs on the pleasures of cooking and DIY, portraits of friends and neighbours, the escapades of his children, and the unpredictable joys of country living.
At once funny, tender and defiantly unfiltered, Smelling of Rooks shows Louis de Bernières as he really is – reflective, unpretentious and gloriously human. A celebration of family, friendship and the small wonders of daily life, it is a book to dip into, laugh with, and treasure.
Description supplied by the event organiser.
StayStaying overnight?
Hotels within walking distance of The Portico Library. Searching near 57 Mosley Street, Manchester, M2 3HY; check-in Saturday, 24 October 2026.
Ad · Stay22 affiliate link
WhereThe Portico Library
Before you goFrequently asked questions
When is Louis de Bernières: On new memoir Smelling of Rooks.?
Louis de Bernières: On new memoir Smelling of Rooks. takes place on Saturday, 24 October 2026 at 15:00.
Where is Louis de Bernières: On new memoir Smelling of Rooks. taking place?
Louis de Bernières: On new memoir Smelling of Rooks. is held at The Portico Library in Manchester (57 Mosley Street, Manchester, M2 3HY).
How much are tickets for Louis de Bernières: On new memoir Smelling of Rooks.?
Tickets for Louis de Bernières: On new memoir Smelling of Rooks. are priced at £6.13. Live prices and availability are shown on Eventbrite.
What will the weather be like at Louis de Bernières: On new memoir Smelling of Rooks.?
The forecast for Louis de Bernières: On new memoir Smelling of Rooks. is Light rain · 10°C. Rain very likely — waterproofs, not just a brolly.
Is there anywhere to stay near Louis de Bernières: On new memoir Smelling of Rooks.?
Yes — hotels within walking distance of The Portico Library can be compared using the accommodation search further down this page.
How do I get tickets for Louis de Bernières: On new memoir Smelling of Rooks.?
Tickets for Louis de Bernières: On new memoir Smelling of Rooks. can be booked via Eventbrite using the "Check Tickets & Live Prices" button on this page, which opens the official booking site in a new tab.
Price
£6.13
Date
Time
Weather
feels like 5°C · chance of rain 100% · wind 28 km/h
Venue
57 Mosley Street, Manchester, M2 3HY
Secure checkout on Eventbrite — opens in a new tab
Ask AI: is it for me?
EventsList lists 226,000+ events across the UK. Tickets are sold by the venue or its authorised sellers, never by us.
Same venueMore at The Portico Library
All at this venueNot this one?Similar events in Manchester
View allMore things to do in Manchester
- An Evening with Gazza & RobboFriday, 5 February 2027
- Book Launch: 'From Be'eri to Bondi'. With Dr. Dave RichSunday, 25 October 2026
- An Evening with Louis de Bernières - AltrinchamSaturday, 24 October 2026
- An evening with Sabaa Tahir at St Ann's Church ManchesterTuesday, 3 November 2026
- Young Once: A Life Less Heavy. NIGEL PLANERSaturday, 14 November 2026
- ACOTAR 6 Book Club at Waterstones DeansgateSaturday, 7 November 2026
- A Nightmare on Nelson StreetThursday, 29 October 2026
- Buzzin Bards Poetry - Reading, Listening 📚 and Writing ✍️Saturday, 24 October 2026
- An Evening with Colin HendrySaturday, 24 October 2026
- An Evening with Jackie KaySunday, 25 October 2026
- The Observer Book Club with Min Jin LeeSunday, 25 October 2026
- Jot: Pop Up BookshopSunday, 25 October 2026
- Read-Out Session: Read aloud your work for feedback or just join & listen.Sunday, 25 October 2026
- Afrosocial Book Club: Cursed DaughtersMonday, 26 October 2026











