In TRANSCENDENCE FOR BEGINNERS, Clare Carlisle examines life writing and philosophy across certain European and Indian traditions, exploring questions of childhood and mortality, art and religion, beauty and loss. Informed by her experience as a biographer of Søren Kierkegaard and George Eliot as well as her own life, Carlisle asks what one human existence can reveal, and how writing can transmit its truth. Intellectually stimulating and deeply moving, Transcendence for Beginners enacts a philosophy of the heart, told by a generous and compelling guide. This bold, enlivening work asserts Carlisle’s place as one of our most innovative thinkers.

Clare Carlisle is the author of eight books on philosophy and philosophers, including Philosopher of the Heart: The Restless Life of Søren Kierkegaard and The Marriage Question: George Eliot’s Double Life, which won the 2024 PEN Prize for Biography. Clare grew up in Manchester, studied philosophy at Trinity College, Cambridge, and now lives in Hackney. She is Professor of Philosophy at King’s College London.

Octavia Bright is a writer and broadcaster. She has presented programmes for BBC R4 and The World Service including Open Book, hosts literary events, and co-hosted the podcast and NTS radio show Literary Friction. She has written for many publications including The Guardian, ELLE and The Sunday Times, and has a PhD from UCL. Her first book, This Ragged Grace, was published by Canongate in 2023.

Accessibility

The event will be held in the shop’s basement, which sadly due to the architectural limitations of the building is without wheelchair access. The space is accessed via stairs with a handrail on the left side. A gender neutral toilet is available on the shop’s ground floor, which is upstairs from the event space. If there is any other information we can provide that would assist in planning your visit, pease contact us and we'll be very happy to help.