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Elizabeth Strout talks to Chris Power

The Things We Never Say: The New Novel from the Best-selling Author

Hay Festival 2026, 

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Elizabeth Strout introduces her new book. It tells the story of Artie Dam, who looks like he’s got life sorted. He’s a teacher, he’s been married for 30 years, he has friends and a great life. But inside he doesn’t feel he fits. Then he uncovers a secret that’s been kept from him – and it changes his entire world. Strout talks to Guardian literary critic Chris Power about the art of writing characters we can all identify with.