BELFAST — Left Bank Books, in downtown Belfast, invites the public to a free talk and book signing by writers Laura McNeal and Lily King on Thursday, July 11, at 6:30 p.m. The event will take place at The First Church of Belfast, which is located across the street from the bookshop on Court Street in downtown Belfast.

The authors — and long-time friends — are celebrating the recent release of McNeal’s historical novel The Swan’s Nest, which tells the literary love story of Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning.

“In stunning prose, as rich and lyrical as a Bronte novel, The Swan’s Nest immerses readers in the radical hopes of two people who believed love in practice could be as enduring and faithful as love in poetry,” said Left Bank, in a news release. “Meticulously researched, McNeal’s novel is a fresh evocation of the love story of two of the world’s most beloved and long-lasting poets.”

“The story is so outlandish that I spent six years trying to find out if it was a lie,” said McNeal.“Many writers fall in love with and marry other writers. . .but most of them betray each other. . . . But no scholar has ever been able to prove that Robert Browning, who lived for twenty-eight years after Elizabeth died in his arms, ever betrayed her or her memory. I wanted to shake the Victorian dust from their effigies and make people see their unexpected modernity.”

Joining McNeal in conversation will be Lily King, New York Times bestselling author of five novels, including Writers & Lovers, which was a NYT notable book and named by the Washington Post, People, and the LA Times as one of the best books of the year (2020). Her earlier novel Euphoria (2014) won the Kirkus Award, the New England Book Award, was a finalist for the National Book Critics Award, and named one of the 10 Best Books of 2014 by the NYT Book Review.

Laura McNeal has written three other novels and, with her husband, writer Tom McNeal, has co-authored four novels for young adults. She and her family live in San Diego.

Reservations are strongly recommended by calling the bookshop (2070-338-9009) or sending an email to: info@leftbankbookshop.com. The doors to the church will open at 6 p.m.; the event will begin at 6:30 p.m.

The Swan’s Nest and Lily King’s novels are available for pre-purchase at the bookshop.