In this thought-provoking discussion, poet and oral historian Sarah Hesketh discusses her latest book, 2016 (CB Editions), a powerful exploration of one of the most pivotal years in recent history. Through a poetic and documentary approach, she captures the voices of twelve individuals reflecting on key events that shaped the world—Brexit, Trump’s election, the Syrian refugee crisis, celebrity deaths, and the climate emergency.

Hesketh discusses her unique oral history-meets-poetry methodology, weaving real voices into a literary tapestry that highlights how people experience history personally. She explains the ethical dilemmas of working with real testimonies, her structured yet fluid approach to editing interviews, and how historical narratives evolve over time.