21 Mar 2012

Wastelands to Wonderlands Exhibit at the BL

A new exhibition at the British Library, titled Writing Britain: Wastelands to Wonderlands, is to feature over 150 works on display, including the notebook of William Blake, Lewis Carroll’s diary and the Lake District handbook of William Wordsworth. The original written version of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland will be displayed with Carroll’s illustrations, and for the first time the library is showing materials from Laurie Lee’s archive, which it acquired two years ago.

The exhibition explores the links between landscapes and literary classics, showcasing archival materials that show how British writers have been inspired by and have shaped the nation’s understanding of place and landscape.

Other featured writers include Ted Hughes, Virginia Woolf, Chaucer, J G Ballard and Angela Carter.

The exhibition is part of the London 2012 Festival.

For more information on the BL website, click here. The exhibit will run from the 11th May.

20 Mar 2012

Literary Pilgrimages to the West Country

Reclamation and Representation keynote Professor Helen Taylor (University of Exeter) will be talking at an upcoming event at Exmouth Library, exploring the rich history of Devon’s literary past from Austen to Coleridge, Salinger to Waugh. The event offers a fascinating look at literary history and literary tourism in the region.
The talk will take place on Weds 28th March in Exmouth Library.
Tickets can be booked from the library (at the very agreeable sum of a mere £2), contactable at exmouth.library@devon.gov.uk, and further information can be found on the WordQuest Devon site: http://www.auneheadarts.org.uk/site/projects/wordquest/index.html