Gladstone's Library literary festival Hearth a hit

Gladstone's Library, Hawarden

By Rhian Waller - Gladstone's Library PR and marketing

A view from the audience...

The Hearth mini-festival, a day of literature, discussion and eating, took place last Saturday. The Gladstone's Library events team - and the speakers, including poet Jonathan Davidson, novelists Susan Stokes-Chapman and Annabel Abbs and short story writer David Hartley - worked hard to make the event a success.

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We enjoyed Hearth - but the most important thing was whether the audience enjoyed it just as much. Often, they let us know. Attendee Jill Courtnell took the time to write an audience-eye view of staying at the Library for Hearth, and allowed us to share it here:

Welcome to Gladstone's Library - a haven of respite in a busy life. Train to Chester, bus to Hawarden, such a warm greeting at the door.

The peace of a pristine room, decorated in dove and silver greys, with its feature wall of ghost-like books … there's a challenge waiting.

Quiet calm overlooking the churchyard with its drifts of snowdrops.

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The desk is inviting inspiration, the lamps positioned for reading comfort. A kettle for tea/coffee and my hot water bottle, which won't be needed in this cosy room with its light duvet and warm Welsh wool blanket.

A brief visit to the silent and magnificent Reading Room to check a fact before joining the pulsating heart of the place for lectures given by expert writers.

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In the Gladstone Room, Susan Stokes Chapman speaks on a Georgian/Palladian theme which drew me from the Soane Museum, while U3A Poetry Group beckons me to attend Jonathon Davidson's treatise, using his book of favourite verses from random authors (and some of his own) interspersed with readings from "the floor" … several heartfelt, some just for fun.

Discussion follows to the clink of wine glasses then into the cheerful clatter of the freshly refurbished Food for Thought restaurant and a tasty supper talking with new friendly companions.

Afterwards, a happy return to the comfy leather sofas in front of the blazing fire, flames dancing in the logburning stove as we settle to read our new books until bedtime … such are the joys of Hearth.