The Mechanics’ Institute Review is Birkbeck, University of London’s annual anthology of short fiction by emerging and established writers from across the UK.

The Mechanics’ champions the short story as an art form, promoting inclusivity, diversity and opportunity while publishing new work of the highest possible standard. It has received critical acclaim from the Guardian, Independent, TLS and Time Out, and endorsements from Ali Smith, Damian Barr, Geoff Dyer, Tessa Hadley and Courttia Newland among many others. We have been privileged to feature more than 40 guest authors over the years, from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie to Evie Wyld via Zoe Gilbert, Jackie Kay, Rose Tremain and David Foster Wallace, to name but a prize-winning few.

This issue features a foreword by Julia Bell and stories by Leone Ross, Megan Bradbury, Ailsa Cox, Jonathan Kemp, Leone Ross, Amal Adam, Arhondia, Nigel Auchterlounie, Jay Barnett, Judy Birkbeck, Valentine Carter, Ian Critchley, Sarah Dale, Kate Ellis, Tim Goldstone, Vicky Grut, Ingrid Jendrzejewski, Lou Kramskoy, Nat Loftus, Len Lukowski, Laurane Marchive, David Martin, R. E. McAuliffe, Cheryl Powell, Josey Rebelle, Jane Roberts, Rachel Stevenson, Sogol Sur, Dean Tucker.