The Film and Literature Department of the British Council can supply information about UK and Commonwealth literature. It is aimed primarily at people living outside the UK. Listed below are a series of links to Freqently Asked Questions (FAQs), grouped into different categories. Click a category name to view the list of questions related to that category. You can click a question to go to the FAQ page containing the answer.

If your enquiry is not answered by our list of frequently asked questions please e-mail us: literatureuk@britishcouncil.org

Conferences and Seminars

What literary conferences are there this year?

Creative Reading

Which author has an anniversary this/next year? What books has an author written? What books have been written about an author? I need brief biographical information about an author I live overseas and would like to buy a British book. I would like to buy the British Council publication... I live overseas can you send me some free books? I am visiting the UK next month, can you provide me with a list of readings that I could attend? Can you send me a list of all UK contemporary authors as I want to have their books in my library? I want reviews of contemporary literature. I want to read/hear interviews with contemporary authors Can you give me the contact details for the...author’s society? I would like a list of arts festivals in the UK?I would like the contact details for...literary festival.Which authors will be attending the...literary festival?Do you have a list of all the poetry festivals in the UK? Please send me a list of literary festivals around the world. I am interested in finding out about literary prizes and competitions in the UK for works in English. I want information about history books. I would like information about UK libraries.

Creative Writing

Can you supply me with lists (names, titles, addresses, phone and fax numbers, e-mails and web sites where available) of the UK's publishers of fiction, poetry and drama? I am sending you a chapter of my book as I would like to know whether you will arrange for it to be published for me. Please supply information about literary agents. Can you supply me with a list (names, titles, addresses, phone and fax numbers, e-mails and web sites where available) of the UK's literary periodicals? I am interested in finding out about literary prizes and competitions in the UK for works in English. I want to know about poetry competitions. I have just written a novel and would like a grant to help me get it published. I am writing a novel and need a grant to help me to finish it. Can you give me a list of book fairs?

Diversity and Diaspora

I want a list of contemporary Irish, Scottish, Welsh or Commonwealth authors or books by them. Can you provide a list of contemporary books that represent multicultural UK?

Events - UK

I would like a list of arts festivals in the UK? I would like the contact details for…literary festival Which authors will be attending the…literary festival? Do you have a list of all the poetry festivals in the UK?

Events - Rest of the World

Please send me a list of literary festivals around the world. I have been invited to a conference overseas, can you help with the funding?

Festivals

I would like a list of arts festivals in the UK? I would like the contact details for …literary festival. Which authors will be attending the … literary festival? Do you have a list of all the poetry festivals in the UK? Please send me a list of literary festivals around the world.

Fiction

Which author has an anniversary this/next year? What books has an author written? What books have been written about an author? I need brief biographical information about an author I live overseas and would like to buy a British book. I live overseas can you send me some free books? I am visiting the UK next month, can you provide me with a list of readings that I could attend? Can you send me a list of all UK contemporary authors as I want to have their books in my library? I want reviews of contemporary literature I want to read/hear interviews with contemporary authors Can you give me the contact details for the...author’s society? I would like a list of arts festivals in the UK?I would like the contact details for ... literary festival.Which authors will be attending the ... literary festival?Do you have a list of all the poetry festivals in the UK? Please send me a list of literary festivals around the world. I am interested in finding out about literary prizes and competitions in the UK for works in English. I want to publish a book by a British author in my country.I want to translate a book (or part of one) for use in my country.

Funding

I want to study in the UK can you give me a grant? I would like a grant to study at Masters level in the UK - I am British. I have just written a novel and would like a grant to help me get it published. I am writing a novel and need a grant to help me to finish it. I have been invited to a conference overseas, can you help with the funding? I want to research a book overseas, can you help with the funding? I am planning to translate a book by a British author. Can you provide me with a grant to do so? I have translated a book by a British author and would like help to publish it.

Jobs

I would like to work in the Film and Literature Department or in one of your offices overseas as a Literature Offficer Can you help me to get work as a translator in the UK? Please supply me with a copy of a standard translator’s contract.

Literary Translation

I am a writer and would like the name of a translator to translate my book into English. I am planning to translate a book by a British author. Can you provide me with a grant to do so? I have translated a book by a British author and would like help to publish it. Can you help me to get work as a translator in the UK? Please supply me with a copy of a standard translator’s contract.

Literature, Language and Culture

Where can I find a list of academics with specialist knowledge of an author? What literary conferences are there this year?

Page to Screen

Can you supply a list of all UK books that have been turned into films?

Playwriting

I want information about a UK playwright I would like a list of UK plays I have written a play and would like to have it published I want to publish a play by a British author in my country. I want to translate a play (or part of one) for use in my country. I would like some information about playwriting courses.

Poetry

I am forwarding a sample of my poems for your review. I want to publish a book/poem/play by a British author in my country.I want to translate a book/poem/play (or part of one) for use in my country. I am visiting the UK next month, can you provide me with a list of poetry readings that I could attend? I have written a poem that would be perfect for Poems on the Underground. How do I contact them? I would like to purchase one of the Poems on the Underground posters. I am searching for a poem by ... that contains something along the lines of ... I heard this line from a poem quoted recently can you tell me which poem it comes from? I would like to access poems on the web. I want to know about poetry competitions.

Study Opportunities

Can you provide me with details of literature/creative writing degree courses? Can you provide me with details of literary postgraduate courses? Can you provide me with details of literary short courses? Can you provide me with details of distance learning/correspondence courses?

Young People's Literature

I would like a list of contemporary UK children’s and teenage literature authors. I would like information about contemporary UK children’s and teenage literature authors. I want to publish a book/poem/play by an UK author in my country. I want to translate a book/poem/play (or part of one) for use in my country.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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