Chairperson: Jean-Philippe Imbert

In the midst of the digital revolution why do we continue to devour, cherish, collect and revere the book? The springboard for this event is Jean-Claude Carrière’s recent ‘curated dialogue’ with fellow book lover Umberto Eco, published in May this year as This is Not the End of the Book. Here Carrière — Oscar-winning French writer, playwright and screenwriter — continues this discourse with Booker-winning novelist John Banville. Together they share their thoughts, passions and concerns on all things bookish…

As a screenwriter Jean-Claude Carrière has worked with many of the 20th century’s great directors from Luis Buñuel to Jean-Luc Godard. His film credits include Belle de Jour, The Unbearable Lightness of Being and most recently Michael Haneke’s The White Ribbon. His books include Conversations About the End of Time (with Stephen Jay Gould and Umberto Eco) and the novel Please Mr Einstein. John Banville is a multi award-winning novelist and occasional screenwriter. His most recent works include The Sea (winner of the 2005 Man Booker Prize) and The Infinities (2009).