Nicholas Royle in Conversation

Join Blackwell’s Manchester for an exploration of the hidden stories found within second-hand books, as Nicholas Royle discusses Finders, Keepers: The Secret Life of Second-Hand Books in conversation with Matthew Adamson.

Royle’s book delves into the curious and often unexpected traces left behind in pre-owned books, from forgotten bookmarks and inscriptions to chance discoveries that reshape the act of reading itself. Drawing on his own idiosyncratic collecting habits, he follows unusual systems and self-imposed rules—reading books alongside maps found within them, tracking down previous owners, or pairing books that share the same title—to uncover new layers of meaning.

Blending anecdote, reflection and literary curiosity, Finders, Keepers reveals the rich and often overlooked afterlives of books as they pass between readers. It offers a celebration of second-hand book culture, where chance, memory and imagination intersect.

Nicholas Royle is the author of several novels and short story collections, as well as earlier works focused on book culture including White Spines and Shadow Lines. He is also the founder of Nightjar Press, a publisher dedicated to short fiction in chapbook form.