Join us to hear from Prof Carol Mavor in conversation with Prof John McAuliffe about her latest book, exploring the sadness, as well as the joy, of unexpected discoveries.
Carol Mavor’s first ‘happy accident’ occurred in 1980 when visiting New York’s Serendipity 3, a dessert café favoured by Andy Warhol. Mavor’s memory of eating a frozen hot chocolate became food for thought, nurturing accidental discoveries about art and literature.
The book’s happy, yet dark, accidents include Anne Frank’s journal, discovered in the Secret Annex after the Second World War; Emily Dickinson’s poems, scribbled on salvaged envelopes, hidden in a drawer; and Lolita, rescued from incineration by Nabokov’s wife Véra.
Doors open at 1:30pm with soft drinks available to purchase.
Copies of the book will be available to purchase at the event for £25.00, or you can purchase a book with your ticket here at a special discounted price £20.00. Your copy will be available for you to collect at the event.
About the venue
The Whitworth is a venue with level access throughout, and facilities to support you during your visit. Alongside this our visitor team will be on hand to assist you in the gallery. Find out more about planning your visit to the Whitworth and accessibility information for you.
If you’d like to speak to a team member about any access or additional needs, please get in touch with the gallery and we will be happy to assist you. Email whitworth@manchester.ac.uk or telephone 0161 275 7450.
Carol Mavor is Emeritus Professor of Art History and Visual Culture at the University of Manchester. She has published widely on photography, cinema, colour and childhood. Her books include Aurelia: Art and Literature Through the Mouth of the Fairy Tale (Reaktion, 2017).
Geoffrey Batchen is Professor of the History of Art at Trinity College, Oxford.
