Image: © Courtesy of Manchester City Galleries
Issue 28 of The Manchester Review presents works of fiction, non-fiction and poetry from writers across the globe, gathering together pieces of disparate tones, forms and thematic focuses. These texts span across those that masterfully employ more familiar structures, to those that explore experimental styles, evidencing both the varied interests of the editorial team and the rich, pluralistic landscape of contemporary writing. Alongside the words we have again featured images shown at The Manchester Art Gallery, this time a range of textile patterns.
While this edition explores diverging themes, as is often the case, several strands of connection will likely reveal themselves. The editorial team, having recognised the quality and relevance of the writing, selected three non-fiction pieces for publication, all of which adopt distinct tonal styles and draw from contrasting experiences, but coalesce around themes of motherhood, materiality and societal expectation.
This year, the language of politics has continued to reduce into soundbites, and generative language models have scaled back our ability to speak with nuance, sensitivity and openness, many of the works included touch on ideas of translation or etymology and feature words that feel luxurious in their unfamiliarity. These pieces recognise that every word we speak is borrowed and shared, that within them there are other languages, other meanings, a plurality reflected in the writing of Issue 28 contributor Daragh Hoey, who reminds us that words are always able to be redirected.
The words translated
through the origin fire of sunlight shattering
a salt grain soaked and sprayed off his cut into the cold
folds of water with a wake unmendable as a bell strike.
Translation, the refraction of language.
As 2025 ends, we thank our readers for their continual support of the journal and all those who have submitted their writing to us; it has been a joy to promote such talent. The Manchester Review will return in 2026, remaining committed to highlighting the best contemporary writing from Manchester and beyond. Updates on submission window openings will be posted on our website and social media, and we will continue to review recent arts, media, and culture events. Please get in touch if you have any reviews you would be interested in sharing.