Fireside Writing Chats: Crafting Worlds Through Ethnography and Nonfiction | Session 4

Speaker: Jonathan Parry

Jonathan Parry is Emeritus Professor of Social Anthropology at the London School of Economics and the 2026 Srinivas Lecturer at Oxford. We will be discussing his magnum opus, Classes of Labour: Work and Life in a Central Indian Steel Town.

These gatherings offer an intimate look at the craft behind ethnography and other nonfiction books rooted in deep, sustained research. Some of the most thoughtful voices share their work, reflecting on why and how they write, exploring the blurred lines between scholarship, art, and public engagement. We bring together a vibrant, supportive community of writers dedicated to writing that engages the world - and helps imagine a more just and liveable one. 

Facilitated by Professor Alpa Shah (School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography and Fellow of All Souls College) and Dr Maxim Bolt (Oxford Department of International Development and Fellow of St Anne’s College).