1- The Canterbury Tales
The Canterbury Tales is a collection of over 20 stories written at the end of the 14th century, during the time of the Hundred Years' War. The tales are presented as part of a storytelling contest by a group of pilgrims as they travel together on a journey from Southwark to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. The prize for this contest is a meal at the Tabard Inn in Southwark on their return. Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343 – 25 October 1400) was the first poet to be buried in Poets’ Corner at Westminster Abbey. Chaucer had to be a part of our celebration of our literary heritage, and we hope you visit this BookBench to see a piece of history brought to life. This BookBench has gone back to the library to be fixed and will be back as soon as possible.
Beth Quinton Beth Quinton is a scenic painter whose diverse work includes film, advertisements, theatre, retail and exhibition. She trained at Loughborough University and Bristol Old Vic. Beth is an associate artist with Emergency Exit Arts, a London-based outdoor arts company who enhance places, enable people and astonish audiences.
2- Frozen in Time
Captain Robert Falcon Scott (6 June 1868 – c. 29 March 1912) was a Royal Navy officer and explorer who led two expeditions to the Antarctic regions: the Discovery Expedition, 1901–04, and the ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition, 1910–13. The Captain Scott BookBench brings to life his diary of the Terra Nova expedition that ultimately claimed his life. Scott's diary has been in print since it was first published in 1913 and has sold almost 250,000 copies. He is remembered as a great explorer, and his account of the expedition shows courage and determination which has inspired readers for over 100 years.
Charles Bezzina Charles Bezzina took inspiration from Captain Scott’s Autobiography to create the Frozen in Time BookBench depicting the famous explorer’s last journey to Antarctica.In the artist's words: “I have always been fascinated to capture in my art the desolate landscapes of the Arctic and Antarctica and have recently been to the high Arctic. During the BookBench creation I used this experience to help me illustrate and to depict Captain Scott’s last journey in Antarctica.” Polar explorer Ben Saunders will be talking about his Scott Expedition in a special talk on 5 September at the National Maritime Museum to celebrate the BookBench inspired by Captain Scott’s Autobiography. Ben retraced Captain Scott's ill-fated Terra Nova expedition in a round-trip from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole and back again. More details on this event coming soon.
3- Samuel Johnson's Wild World
Written by Samuel Johnson and published in 1755, A Dictionary of the English Language, sometimes published as Johnson's Dictionary, is among the most influential dictionaries in the history of the English language. Johnson took nearly nine years to complete the work single-handedly, with only clerical assistance to copy out the illustrative quotations that he had marked in books. Johnson produced several revised editions during his life. Until the completion of the Oxford English Dictionary 173 years later, Johnson's was viewed as the pre-eminent English dictionary, so it very rightfully takes a place in our trail of BookBenches.
Scriberia Scriberia is a London-based company made up of illustrators, animators and graphic facilitators, who work with clients around the world, to visualise thinking and bring ideas to life. They have produced a BookBench based on Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary, using their unique style to bring this impressive piece of work to life.
4- Elmer the Elephant
Elmer the Patchwork Elephant has been a nursery favourite since the series was first published, with over five million copies sold in 40 languages worldwide. David McKee's beloved story of Elmer is about celebrating differences and diversity and accepting one's true colours. Destined to be the most colourful bench on the Books about Town trail, Elmer's bench is proudly sponsored by Andersen Press.
David McKee (original illustrations) Created by Giles Boardman Giles Boardman created the Elmer the Patchwork Elephant BookBench based on original illustrations by author David McKee.
5- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a comedy science fiction series created by Douglas Adams. Originally a radio comedy broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1978, it was adapted to other formats and became an international multi-media phenomenon. The first novel in the series features Arthur Dent, a hapless Englishman. One Thursday lunchtime, the Earth gets unexpectedly demolished to make way for a new hyperspace bypass. In the seconds before global obliteration, Arthur is plucked from the planet by his friend Ford Prefect and together the pair venture out across the galaxy on the craziest, strangest road trip of all time. Take a crazy trip of your own across London this summer as you track down all 50 of our amazing BookBenches, including The Hitchiker’s Guide of course!
Deven Bhurke Deven Bhurke created The Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy BookBench. Deven is a commercial artist with a special interest in pencil sketching and photography. Deven's inspiration: “Designing and painting the BookBench has been an opportunity to creatively exhibit the absurdity from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy in the form of an eclectic collage united by a splash of bright colours.”
6- The Jungle Book
Set in magical, mysterious India, these tales of people and animals living together have appealed to children and adults alike since their first appearance more than a century ago. Most focus on Mowgli, a boy raised by wolves. As Baloo the sleepy brown bear, Bagheera the cunning black panther, Kaa the python, and his other animal friends teach their beloved “man-cub” the ways of the jungle, Mowgli gains the strength and wisdom he needs for his frightful fight with Shere Khan, the tiger who robbed him of his human family. Over 100 years after these stories were written, The Jungle Book BookBench will bring an exotic twist to our Books about Town trail. Can you spot Bagheera, Kaa and Shere Khan?
Ruth Green Ruth Green graduated from St Martins School of Art in Illustration and later obtained a BA Hons in Fine Art (painting). After working in advertising for many years she began working freelance and exhibiting her landscape paintings, and is now a partner in The Painted Pigs Co. Ruth brings an exotic twist to Books about Town with a BookBench based on Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book.
7- On the Origin of Species
On the Origin of Species, published on 24 November 1859, is a work of scientific literature by Charles Darwin and considered to be the foundation of evolutionary biology. Darwin's book introduced the scientific theory that populations evolve over the course of generations through a process of natural selection. It presented a body of evidence that the diversity of life arose by common descent through a branching pattern of evolution. Darwin included evidence that he had gathered on the Beagle expedition in the 1830s and his subsequent findings from research, correspondence and experimentation. Darwin had to be part of our Books about Town trail, representing scientific writing and the role this has in our literary heritage alongside our most famous fairytales and fiction.
Jane Veveris Callan Jane Veveris Callan is a painter, printmaker and illustrator based in Bath. She has painted more than 20 of her designs on sculptures for public art projects; from Olympic mascots to gorillas and now a BookBench! She was inspired by Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, with a BookBench that interprets the ‘tree of life’ metaphor with which he explained the connection between all organisms.
8- The Railway Children
The Railway Children, published in 1905, is a classic children’s book which continues to captivate young readers over 100 years later. When Father goes away with two strangers one evening, the lives of Roberta, Peter and Phyllis are shattered. With their mother they move from their comfortable London home to live in a simple country cottage, where Mother writes books to make ends meet. However, they soon come to love the railway that runs near their cottage, and they make a habit of waving to the Old Gentleman who rides on it. They have many adventures, and when they save a train from disaster, they are helped by the Old Gentleman to solve the mystery of their father's disappearance. This summer Roberta, Peter and Phyllis return to London with this stunning BookBench honouring this wonderful piece of children’s literature which inspires generation after generation to read for pleasure.
One Red Shoe Fiona and Neil Osborne (One Red Shoe) have been designing and painting murals in and around Cheshire for the last 12 years, working in public spaces, businesses and private homes - producing a portfolio ranging from gable-end murals to complete, artistically themed rooms and creative interiors. They have created two BookBenches
for Books about Town: Mrs Dalloway by Virgina Wolf and The Railway Children by E Nesbit. They chose the dramatic train-stopping scene for the latter, with the oncoming train and clouds of steam depicted on the reverse of the BookBench.
9- Samuel Pepys' Diary
Samuel Pepys (1633-1703) was an English naval administrator and Member of Parliament who is now most famous for the diary he kept for a decade while still a relatively young man. The detailed private diary Pepys kept from 1660 until 1669 was first published in the 19th century, and is one of the most important primary sources for the English Restoration period. It provides a combination of personal revelation and eyewitness accounts of great events such as the Great Plague, the Second Anglo-Dutch War and the Great Fire of London. Having recorded historical London events so carefully, Samuel Pepys returns to London once more in form of a BookBench. Sit down on this amazing BookBench and think about how much London life has changed since then!
Michele Petit-Jean Michele Petit-Jean is an illustrator, puppeteer and multidisciplinary artist, with many years’ experience in participatory arts engagement. Michele is an associate artist with Emergency Exit Arts, a London-based outdoor arts company who enhance places, enable people and astonish audiences. He has created a BookBench based on Samuel Pepys’ Diary, depicting snapshots of London history like the Great Fire of London.
10- Girl Engrossed
Artist Andrea Joseph took inspiration from one of her favourite books growing up to create a BookBench that represents a love of reading. Andrea says: “Back in the day, like many other kid of the 1980s, I was obsessed with Adrian Mole. A while ago I reread the books and they were still as funny and brilliant as when I first read them. I've grown up with the character and loved everything about him, from his political views (fiercely anti-Thatcher) and his burning desire to lead the life less ordinary.” Sue Townsend’s popular Adrian Mole series appeals to many readers as a realistic and humorous treatment of the inner life of an adolescent boy. The books also captured something of the zeitgeist of the UK during the Thatcher period. We hope this BookBench depicting such a love of reading inspires young people to get lost in a great book this summer!
Andrea Joseph Andrea Joseph took inspiration from Sue Townsend’s Adrian Mole series to create a BookBench depicting a love for reading. “This bench was inspired by my love of reading as a child. I wanted to incorporate Sue Townsend's The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 into my BookBench design as I loved to read this book when I was a girl of the same age.”
11- The Time Machine
A classic in the science fiction genre, H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine has inspired many other works of fiction, including books, films, television adaptations and comic books. The Time Traveller also appears in many popular television shows such as Doctor Who and Warehouse 13. Published in 1895, The Time Machine has captured readers’ imagination for almost 120 years. It tells the story of how an English scientist from Richmond, Surrey travelled to the future where he finds that the human race has evolved into two species, the Eloi and the Morlocks. Now represented on a BookBench, we hope this story will inspire future generations to read for pleasure and discover the range of genres that exist within our rich literary heritage.
Di Ralston Di Ralston studied at St Martins School of Art and has exhibited in the UK, USA and Germany. She is the co founder of The Painted Pigs Company. Di took inspiration from the classic science fiction novel The Time Machine by HG Wells to create a unique BookBench for Books about Town.
12- We're Going on a Bear Hunt
This worthy winner of the 1989 Nestle Smarties Book Prize and 2011 Mumsnet Best Award is a timeless classic that is enjoyed by children of all ages, as well as by the adults who are continually asked to read it again and again! It follows a family’s excitement as they swish and swash through the grass, splash and splosh through the river and squelch and squerch through the mud in search of the bear. Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury’s family favourite celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, and what better way to join the bear hunt than with a BookBench. You could own this bench
Helen Oxenbury (design) Created by Gerard Strong Gerard Strong brought to life Michael Rosen’s wonderful story We’re Going on a Bear Hunt with original illustrations by Helen Oxenbury.