
Louis de Bernières: On new memoir Smelling of Rooks.
Sat 24 Oct · 15:00
The Portico Library
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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.
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Hotels within walking distance of The Portico Library.
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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.
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 Summary
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.
Organiser’s full description
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.
❓ Frequently 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.
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.
🏨 Staying overnight?
Hotels within walking distance of The Portico Library
Ad · Stay22 affiliate link
Price
£6.13
Date
Until Saturday, 24 October 2026
Time
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