The Wild Washerwomen by John Yeoman, first published by Hamish Hamilton (1979) The washerwomen go out on the rampage. Illustration: Quentin BlakeCandideby Voltaire, illustrated edition published by The Folio Society (2011) Eternal optimist Dr Pangloss is hanged. Illustration: Quentin BlakeThe Boy in the Dressby David Walliams, first published by HarperCollins (2008) Dennis and his friend Lisa discuss shoes as they walk home from school. Illustration: Quentin BlakeThe Twits by Roald Dahl, first published by Jonathan Cape (1980) Mr Twit eats a plate of worms disguised as spaghetti. Illustration: Quentin BlakeThe Story of the Dancing Frog, by Quentin Blake, first published by Red Fox (1984) An exceptional frog dances Swan Lake in Russia. Illustration: Quentin BlakeHow Tom Beat Captain Najork and His Hired Sportsmen by Russell Hoban, first published by Jonathan Cape (1974) The formidable Aunt Fidget Wonkham-Strong and her nephew Tom. Illustration: Quentin BlakeClownby Quentin Blake first published by Jonathan Cape (1995) The eponymous hero. Illustration: Quentin BlakeMichael Rosen's Sad Book by Michael Rosen, first published by Walker Books (2004) Birthday candles. Illustration: Quentin BlakeDanny the Champion of the Worldby Roald Dahl, first published by Jonathan Cape (1975) Danny's father with handfuls of sleeping pheasants. Illustration: Quentin Blake
Gorilla, Nguyen Hung Cuong, Vietnam. Photograph: Christopher BierleinLion, Hoang Tien Quyet, Vietnam. Photograph: Christopher BierleinPhoenix, Satoshi Kamiya, Japan. Photograph: Christopher BierleinCiérbol, Victor Coeurjoly, Spain. Photograph: Christopher BierleinKiwi, Bernie Peyton, US. Photograph: Christopher BierleinEvent Horizon, Byriah Loper, US. Photograph: Christopher BierleinSymmetry, Erik and Martin Demaine, US. Photograph: Christopher BierleinShakti, Joel Cooper, US. Photograph: Christopher BierleinEnfaltung, Jule Waibel, UK. Photograph: Christopher BierleinConstrained Bowl, Linda Smith, US. Photograph: Christopher Bierlein
Books about town: find London's literary benches and share your photos
London has become a literary playground: a project by the National Literacy Trust has scattered 50 book-shaped benches across the capital for the whole summer, each dedicated to an iconic London-related author or character. Will you help us find them?
Fancy sitting on a book? Yes, you read correctly: not with, but on – although now you can try both. From today, you can do it in 50 different locations around London, thanks to book-shaped benches, which have been installed all over the city by the National Literacy Trust to celebrate London’s literary heritage and to encourage reading.
The 50 benches are dedicated to books, characters and authors: from Sherlock Holmes, James Bond and Hercules Poirot to Peter Pan, The Gruffalo and Paddington Bear. Each bench has been designed an artist. Ralph Steadman, who illustrated Lewis Carroll’s children’s classic Through the Looking Glass in 1973 – has reproduced some of the original drawings on that bench. Here he is at work:
Ralph Steadman drawing his Through the Looking Glass bench. Photograph: National Literacy Trust
And here is the beautiful result:
Photograph: Chris O’Donovan for the National Literacy Trust
Other benches include a collaboration between Axel Scheffler and Julia Donaldson to celebrate the characters they have created together, fromThe Gruffalo to the stars of their new book The Scarecrow’s Wedding. Clarice Bean has her own bench, thanks to Lauren Child, as doesCressida Cowell's How to Tame Your Dragon; and here's artist Charles Bezzina varnishing the Frozen in Time bench based on Captain Scott’s Autobiography:
Photograph: National Literacy Trust
You'll find the details for all 50 benches and their authors and illustratorson this list. Plus, several literary trails have been created around Greenwich, the City, Riverside and Bloomsbury – you can check the details and maps here. The benches will be displayed until mid-September and auctioned at the Southbank Centre on 7 October, to raise funds for the National Literacy Trust.
The project will also include lots of events, such as book giveaways, a performance by the cast of the 1984 stage production, a meerkat flashmob or an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most number of people dressed as Sherlock Holmes. Check their website forthe full programme and details.
The books have now all been put in place – here's proof of one of them, (still) all alone over in the Thames:
Photograph: National Literacy Trust
But we won't tell you too much more: discovering them is up to you. Whether you you stumble upon Orwell's 1984 or find yourself sitting on a dragon, take a photo with the bench, tell us why you love that author or book, show us how you're participating in the events, and why not be creative and record yourself quoting a few lines from the text in situ?
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