Amis tackles the subject of suicide

Leading author Martin Amis is to investigate the difficult subject of suicide with two public figures who have been touched by the tragedy at The University of Manchester this week (July 3).

Amis, who ends his second year as Professor of Creative Writing at The University of Manchester, subtitled his classic 1984 novel, Money, 'A suicide note' - a subject he has revisited in later novels.

He will be joined by 79-year-old poet Al Alvarez who is best known for his study of suicide, The Savage God, where he discussed the death of his friend Sylvia Plath.

Also taking part is British broadcaster and author Melvyn Bragg, whose first wife killed herself when she was 31 – ten years into their marriage.

Bragg did not realise his wife - a French vicomtesse called Lisa Roche - had a history of suicide attempts.

She went into therapy but killed herself in 1971 by jumping from a window.

"I could have done things which helped and I did things which harmed," he told The Guardian in 1998. "So yes, I feel guilt, I feel remorse."

The reading will be followed by a question and answer session.

Professor Amis is based at the University’s Centre for New Writing, which explores and researches collaboration between creative and critical writing.

Martin Amis Public Events: Literature and Suicide with Al Alvarez and Melvyn Bragg will take place at University Place, Oxford Road, Manchester at 6.30 PM.