Sarah Hall ’s much celebrated sixth novel, Helm, was selected as this year’s winner of the Lakeland Book of the Year Award. It is the story of Helm, a ferocious, mischievous wind – a subject of folklore and wonder – who has blasted the sublime landscape of the Eden Valley since the very dawn of time. But now Dr Selima Sutar, surrounded by measuring instruments in her observation hut, fears that human pollution is killing Helm.

Sarah Hall is a two-time Booker Prize nominee, winner of the John Llewellyn Rhys and The Commonwealth Writers Prizes, the author of six novels and three short-story collections. Notably, she is the only author to win the BBC National Short Story Award twice: first in 2013 with Mrs Fox and again in 2020 with The Grotesques.

This is the inaugural Borderlines Carlisle Book Festival Gwenda Matthews Talk, remembering our much-loved festival co-founder and co-programmer, who died in January this year. Gwenda was the founder and owner of Bookcase and Bookends in Carlisle and Keswick.

Under 25s can save £2 per ticket, just select the correct option when purchasing.

Event starts at 2pm and finishes at 3pm.

This event is part of the Borderlines Carlisle Book Festival.