The New Dark Ages: James Marriott in conversation with Henry Oliver
- Feb 3
- 2 min read
Wednesday 8 July
6.30pm-8pm (Doors open 6pm) £27.50
Is the decline of reading the start of a new Dark Ages for Western Civilization? Or are there reasons to be optimistic?
Join Times columnist James Marriott in conversation with Substack writer Henry Oliver for a discussion about the future of literature, literacy, and the fate of the West.
James Marriott's The New Dark Ages is an impassioned attack on the trivial and meaningless culture of the screen and a defence of the written word. Drawing on history and classic works of literature and theory, The New Dark Ages argues that reading and writing are essential for innovation, creativity and critical thinking.
Above all, the culture of print is essential to the functioning of modern democracies which require their citizens to grapple with ideas at length and in depth. And as print dies, we risk returning to the chaos, tribalism, and rage of a pre-literate society.
James Marriott James Marriott is a Times columnist and the author of The New Dark Ages.
Henry Oliver Henry Oliver is a Research Fellow at the Mercatus Center.
He writes the popular literary Substack The Common Reader. His book, Second Act, is a study of late blooming talent.
Ticket includes a welcome drink, book signing and a chance to view Dr Johnson's House.
Doors open & welcome drink: 6pm
Talk starts: 6.30pm
Event ends: 8pm
Limited capacity. Early booking advised. A small number of priority tickets have been set aside for members.
Accessibility
There is regrettably no step-free access to Dr Johnson's House.
There are seven steps to access the entrance (with a handrail).
The building is a four-storey townhouse with a staircase between each floor.
There are handrails on each side of the staircase and visitor seating in every room.
Toilets are located down a steep set of stairs.
