Philip Pullman on The Rose Field // Book Club

‘Without imagination you never see the truth about anything. Without imagination you think you see more truth, but in fact you see less’. Born in Norwich in 1946, Philip Pullman is one of Britain's most celebrated storytellers, renowned for creating vividly imagined worlds that explore questions about humanity, morality and the nature of consciousness. His groundbreaking ‘His Dark Materials’ trilogy introduced readers to Lyra Belacqua and Will Parry, establishing an extraordinary fantasy that has captivated generations of readers, both old and young. More than two decades later, Pullman returned to this universe with ‘The Book of Dust’, a companion trilogy that both precedes and continues the events of his previous novels. The first installment, ‘La Belle Sauvage’, takes place before Lyra's birth, while ‘The Secret Commonwealth’ follows her as a young woman grappling with the loss of her imagination. ‘The Rose Field’ brings together the threads of both trilogies, offering an exciting culmination to a story that has enchanted readers for nearly thirty years. Many thanks to Exeter College, Oxford for welcoming us for this very special interview with one of their many illustrious alumni.