Writers and their Libraries
July 20, 2012
One of next year’s most exciting conferences will be Writers and their Libraries at the Institute of English Studies in March, with keynotes by Professor Heather Jackson and Professor Dirk Van Hulle. I can’t wait for booking to open – two days with other people who are interested in the reading habits of writers sounds like bliss.
This snapshot of Walter de la Mare from 1924 is one of my favourite images of someone reading. The look of concentration is compelling. Perhaps it’s even one of the motivations in my research: to find out as much as possible about the books that inspired such utter absorption. Sadly for me, the image is too grainy to make out the books and papers on de la Mare’s desk – but at least I get to research his Working Library at Senate House which is full of surprises in itself.
Walter de la Mare by Lady Ottoline Morrell
vintage snapshot print, 1924
1 5/8 in. x 2 1/2 in. (40 mm x 65 mm) image size
Purchased with help from the Friends of the National Libraries and the Dame Helen Gardner Bequest, 2003
Photographs Collection
NPG Ax141617
Licensed under copyright commons.
You can find out more about the Writers and their Libraries conference via its blog, which includes lots of interesting articles on reading, provenance and marginalia and so is worth reading even if you can’t make it to London in March next year.
Thanks for tweeting this blog post; I had not heard about this conference but it is definitely my kind of thing. Off to look at their blog now!
Great photo as well; it is a shame not to be able to see what he is reading, but I love how absorbed he is in his book. That’s the ideal reading state of mind.