Free online taster for Banville fans

Fans of Booker Prize winner John Banville can today read the first chapter of his forthcoming novel for free.

The Irish novelist’s new book, 'The Sinking City', is available to view online on a new literary journal launched by the University of Manchester.

The eagerly awaited novel is the author’s first literary fiction since 'The Sea' which won the Man Booker Prize in 2005.

Banville admirers will be able to read the chapter for free by visiting the journal’s website at www.themanchesterreview.co.uk.

'The Manchester Review' is published by the University’s Centre for New Writing, home to Professor of Creative Writing Martin Amis.

Banville was among a number of leading writers who visited the university this year to hold Q&As with students on its MA in Creating Writing course.

In addition to the Banville extract, the journal’s first issue will feature new work by high-profile writers Ali Smith, Paul Muldoon, M.J. Hyland and Bill Manhire.

New issues will appear each spring and autumn offering a mix of new music, public debate, visual art and video as well as fiction and poetry.

Centre for New Writing co-director John McAuliffe said: “Manchester and The University of Manchester were home to some of the UK’s most innovative 20th century literary journals, including Brian Cox’s 'Critical Quarterly' and Michael Schmidt’s 'PN Review'.

“'The Manchester Review' takes its cue from their proactive promotion of new writing, but uses online media to show and sponsor the interplay of poetry, fiction, music, visual art and essays by new and established practitioners.

“We hope that it will find new readers and audiences for exciting and innovative creative work, which is steeped in traditional virtues.

“This will be accompanied by the Review’s lively critical blog, which will take the temperature of – and maybe sometimes set the agenda for – the contemporary arts in the UK and beyond.”