The Book of Sheffield

About

Known for both its industrial roots and arboreal abundance, Sheffield has always been a city of two halves. From elegant parks and gardens to brutalist high-rise estates and the hinterland nightclubs of ‘Centertainment’, it is a city caught between the forges of the past and the melting pot of the present.

Bringing together new short stories from some of the city’s most celebrated writers, The Book of Sheffield traces the contours of this complex landscape from both sides of the economic dividing line. From the aspirations of young creatives, ultimately driven to leave, to the more immediate demands of refugees, scrap metal collectors, and student radicals, these stories offer ten different look-out points from which to gaze down on the ever-changing face of the ‘Steel City’.

Sheffield Libraries' BIG CITY READ 2020 - find out more. 

Press

As featured in Wasafiri Magazine's 'Writing Britain Now' series.

Featuring Jhalak Prize 2020 winning author Johny Pitts.

'Ten Sheffield authors share their stories for a new book about the city' - Sheffield Telegraph

'Who knew there was so much talent in the place? I haven't been so proud since The Full Monty came out.' - Bookmunch

'Conjuring a variety of Sheffields that are as gloriously true as the one that that exists in my head... Because in a city of valleys, a city of hills, there's always another view to take in.' - Northern Soul

'The stories are as eclectic as they are connected... you can dip in and out at your leisure and still feel cultured and complete.' - The State of the Arts

'The strength of The Book of Sheffield is the kaleidoscopic nature of its focus.' - Amy Stewart

'A truly diverse and innovative collection of stories... these characters remain fresh and indelible' - Bright Star Book Blog

'If you are not from Sheffield, read this anyway. These stories erode the assumption that it is grim up North.' - Behind the Critic

'I believe all readers, whether novice or expert, can find something within this collection to both empathise with and to simply enjoy...' - Megan Relph, Number 9 Reviews

READ

Read editor Catherine Taylor's piece for The Times Literary Supplement tracing Sheffield's cultural history through her family's bookshop. 

Read editor Catherine Taylor's piece for The Guardian about her summer job in a cutlery factory in Sheffield in the late 1980s. 

Read an interview with editor Catherine Taylor by Sheffield's own Exposed Magazine. 

Read an interview with editor Catherine Taylor by Minor Literatures.

Read Helen Mort on writing her story 'Weaning' at Caught by the River.

LISTEN

Listen to contributors Helen Mort & Gregory Norminton on BBC Radio Sheffield (interview 1 hour in, broadcast 7th October 2019).

Listen to editor Catherine Taylor and contributor Desiree Reynolds on BBC Radio Sheffield (interview 1 hour in, broadcast 24th October 2019).

Listen to Helen Mort talk about her story 'Weaning' on BBC Woman's Hour.  

Listen to the Sheffield Libraries podcast series exploring the anthology on Anchor.fm:

- Introduction to the anthology

- The making of the anthology, including an interview with the editor Catherine Taylor

- Contributing author Naomi Frisby in conversation about her story, 'The Time is Now' 

- Contributing author Helen Mort in conversation about her story, 'Weaning' 

WATCH

Watch author Johny Pitts in conversation with fellow contributor Desiree Reynolds about his story.

Watch author Desiree Reynolds in conversation with acclaimed writer Yvonne Battle-Felton about her story. 

DOWNLOAD

Download The Book of Sheffield Reading Group Pack.