Writers Houses

Description

Writers' Houses reflects Britain's impressive literary and architectural heritage, offering a revealing insight into how leading British writers lived and wrote. Illustrated in colour, the book guides you through the very rooms that inspired writers to produce some of their greatest work. Drawing upon the writers' own words, the book examines in detail the personal relationship between each house and writer and discusses the influence these places have had upon the imagination and creativity of British novelists, poets and playwrights from the past five hundred years. Over fifty houses are explored including Agatha Christie's secluded West Country retreat, the ancient, timber-framed residence in Stratford-upon-Avon where Shakespeare spent his boyhood, Dylan Thomas' boat-house at Laugharne, the cottage where Robert Burns was born and brought up, and the moated house and garden in East Sussex that inspired the evocative setting for a Sherlock Holmes story. Follow in the footsteps of your favourite authors and be inspired by the surroundings in which some of literature's best-loved characters were created.

Nick Channer is a regular contributor to many publications, including the Daily Telegraph, Country Life and the Scots Magazine. He is particularly interested in walking and travel, social history, literary tourism and journeys from fiction. Nick has also contributed to a documentary on youth hostelling, broadcast on BBC Radio Four. He lives at the heart of England - not far from Shakespeare's birthplace.

'Illustrated in colour and with a foreword by Downton Abbey writer Julian Fellowes, it's a lovely read and perfect for dipping into, with intriguing snippets and anecdotes on every page.' The Westmorland Gazette 'With the Foreword by Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes this is a fascinating book that takes the reader on a literary tour of the British Isles... A must for every book lover.' Devon Life 'Mr. Channer shows us how the places where writers actually lived help us understand their creations...if you do go and visit all the sites in it, your enjoyment of them will be enriched by its insights into their character and significance.' Washington Times