Women’s bodies are the subject of continued discussion, speculation and law-making, but in personal and courageous essay collections, Irish writers Emilie Pine and Sinéad Gleeson set out to reclaim their own bodies and experiences.

In Notes to Self, Emilie considers the heartbreak of fertility treatment and predatory older men, while in Constellations, Sinéad explores the disability caused by monoarticular arthritis in her hip, the meaning of hair and motherhood. Guaranteed to be an empowering feminist discussion, both writers’ preoccupations cross with death and grief and blood, and what it means to be a woman in a patriarchal world.

Hosted by Kate Feld, and presented in partnership with Centre for New Writing and Creative Manchester.