Arundhati Roy is one of today’s most esteemed public intellectuals. The author of novels, including the Booker Prize-winning The God of Small Things, Roy is equally respected as a political essayist. Her words on topics from the COVID-19 pandemic to the plight of India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi have helped define public discourse in India and beyond.

Now Roy comes to the Intelligence Squared stage for this exclusive event at Cadogan Hall. Combining the signature scale, sweep and depth of her novels, and the passion, political clarity and warmth of her essays, Roy will draw on the themes of her new memoir for a compelling exploration of her life and work.

“It is vanishingly rare for a writer to both confront the ugliness of humanity and still search for its beauty. Roy is that rare writer.” Naomi Klein

Born out of the onrush of memories and feelings provoked by her mother Mary’s death, Mother Mary Comes to Me is Roy’s telling of her own story from childhood to the present, from Kerala to Delhi. An ode to freedom, a tribute to thorny love and savage grace, it is a memoir like no other.

Join us for a rare opportunity to hear from one of the greatest writers of our generation, and have your questions answered in the Q&A.

Book upgrade

Add an exclusively-priced hardback copy of Arundhati Roy’s book Mother Mary Comes to Me priced £18 (RRP £20) to your order. The book can be pre-purchased during the check-out process and collected on the evening.

Please note this is a book add-on only. A separate event ticket is required for entry. Books must be collected from the venue on the night of the event. They cannot be posted out either before or after the event.