Saturday, 16 November 2024

Lee Stuart Evans at Bromley House

You can catch Lee Stuart Evans at Bromley House Library, Angel Row, Nottingham NG1 6HL on November 23rd at 6pm. He’ll be talking about his latest release Pleasantly Disturbed, his writing inspirations and his influences.

Link to book your place There will be a bar. If you have any questions about this event please contact the library on 01159 473134 or e-mail enquiries@bromleyhouse.org

Lee’s latest novel Pleasantly Disturbed is a comedic coming-of-age mystery and love story, set against the backdrop of the East Midlands in the 1980s. His debut novel, Words Best Sung (2017), showcased his knack for blending humour with heartfelt storytelling. There’s more jinx and reminiscing to be had in his new book, a story of teenage kicks and how music can help a turbulent time make sense.

Robin, a cheeky teenager from a Nottinghamshire mining town, fancies himself the next Jim Kerr of Simple Minds. The catch? He can’t sing, unlike his girlfriend, Fliss, a more reluctant musical prodigy with the voice of Kate Bush.

While Robin's busy dreaming of stardom working at a local garage, Fliss auditions for a TV talent show. Meanwhile, Robin’s eccentric colleague Vern, who’s read one too many Maigret novels, ropes him into investigating a series of car thefts linked to a old railway station near Sherwood Forest. Things take a turn for the worse when Robin and Fliss are dragged into a police investigation.

Lee has penned another nostalgic, feel-good novel that captures the essence of 1980s Midlands life. Robin and Fliss are endearing, and their struggles and ambitions are touching and funny. Robin’s delusions of grandeur and lack of talent are a perfect foil to Fliss’s quiet brilliance, while the witty dialogue, vivid descriptions, and the transformative power of music, accompany the exploration of teenage dreams and young love, while also delving into the odd darker theme.

Fans of 1980s music will love the cultural references and Jim Kerr fandom, and there’s local mentions galore - Nottingham Forest, Cresswell Craggs, Wellbeck etc. etc. But if you not from Notts, or have no fondness for Simple Minds or ‘80s’ music, you’ll still be charmed by the novel’s humour, warmth, and engaging plot. Highly recommended for anyone looking for an entertaining read that balances nostalgia, humour, and warmth. It’s also pleasantly unpredictable.

About the Author

Lee Stuart Evans, raised in north Notts, is a BAFTA-nominated comedy writer with over two decades of experience. He’s worked with some of the UK’s top comedians, including Sean Lock, Harry Hill, and Jimmy Carr. 

Monday, 28 October 2024

Poodle Parlour

This poodle parlour was on Hounds Gate in Nottingham, near Spaniel Row.

The woman featured, Anne Cox, died this year. She was colourful character herself. In addition to settting up her poodle parlour, the first in the country to dye the dogs, she ran away to join the circus where she took care of the elephants, before she joined a repertory theatre and acted in many productions. She was later heavily involved in Nottingham Speakers' Club having previously joined Newark Speakers' Club as they were one of the first to accept female members.


Monday, 27 May 2024

Poetry Launch at Central Library

Five Leaves New Poetry series, part of Nottingham Poetry Festival 2024, continues at Nottingham Central Library.

Hear from Fiona Theokritoff and Nathan Fidler, along with guest appearances from other poets in the series.

June 13th, 2024, 7pm-8.45pm

It is a fundamental law in our universe that energy cannot be destroyed, it can only be transformed. This principle lies at the heart of Fiona Theokritoff‘s debut pamphlet, New Uses for a Wand, which follows the way our world has taken the old energy of magic and alchemy, and transformed it through inspiration, conflict and necessity into today’s energy of science and technology. The poems explore the pain as well as the inevitability of change, how our world changes, and how our global and personal relation­ships change as a result. And how humans will always struggle to love, whatever the cost.

Collecting poems with a sense of anxiety or an underlying itch – sometimes with a drop of wry humour – You Worry Too Much is the debut pamphlet of Nottingham-born poet Nathan Fidler. There are poems for people long gone, for people still here, and for tiny insects. There are poems about the strangeness of being alive, here with you. Often written last thing at night in the moments before nodding off, or after the buzz of a coffee in the morning, they acknowledge that we get these feelings sometimes, of doubt, of worry. Don’t you? There aren’t really any answers here, this isn’t a self-help pamphlet. You’ll just have to sit with that vague feeling for a while.

FREE TICKETS HERE

Our Celery Days

In John Deane, his adventures by land and sea, by W H G Kingston, I came across the following passage:

It was French prisoner who first observed celery growing wild on rock on which Nottingham Castle stands, Alamon Francaise, and having cultivated it successfully in his own little garden, he made that pleasant edition to English tables, from that time forth common every where throughout the kingdom.



In 1704 the Duke of Marlborough had defeated the French at the battle of Blenheim. Of the captured 13,000 prisoners, a number of French officers, aristocrats and servants were taken to Nottingham. One of the men, Marshal Tallart/Marshall Tallard, was allowed to rent Newdigate House on Castle Gate. He too is cited as the man that brought the stringy foodstuff to our tables after noticing wild celery growing in the Nottingham marshes.  

Whilst celery was not a new discovery, both Francaise and Tallard are credited with making it popular cuisine in England, with others following their taste.

 

Tallard also had a taste for Nottingham women. In 1724-5, Daniel Defoe wrote of him:

They showed us the Gardens of Count Tallard, who, in his Confinement here, after having been taken Prisoner by the renowned Duke of Marlborough, at the glorious Battle of Blenheim, amused himself with making a small but beautiful Parterre, after the French Taste, which happens not to be the reigning one with us at present. ‘Tis said, likewise, that this gallant Gentleman left behind him here some living Memorandums of his great Affection and Esteem for the English Ladies.


Captain John Deane, born in Nottingham in 1679, lived a life full of adventure. He died in his 80s and is buried in the Wilford Churchyard so beloved by Henry Kirke White.


Saturday, 16 December 2023

Nottingham's New Library

 Nottingham's new and long-awaited Central Library opened on November 28th 2023. Take a look:











Friday, 1 September 2023

Writing and Literature Courses

27 Creative Writing and other Literature Courses for 2023


Creative Writing - Polish your Writing Skills - Online Course
11 September - 16 October 2023, Mondays: 9:30am - 11:30am, FREE - £36

Learn about different elements of writing such as narration, description, dialogue, voicing internal thoughts and action. Discover how to draft and edit, and write with purpose.


Creative Writing - Short Stories for Beginners - Mansfield Central Library
11 September - 16 October 2023, Mondays: 1pm - 3pm, FREE - £36

This course is a relaxed exploration of short stories, including writing practice. It includes finding story ideas and creating characters, as well as how to structure and develop your stories. 
Details and booking


Creative Writing - Exploring Nottinghamshire Writers – Mansfield Woodhouse Library
2 September - 17 October 2023, Tuesdays: 2pm - 4pm, FREE

Develop your creative writing skill by exploring the work of Nottinghamshire authors from different eras and cultures.
Details and booking


Creative Writing - How to Write for Children - Newark Buttermarket
12 September - 17 October 2023, Tuesdays: 2pm
- 4pm, FREE - £36

This course is for anyone who wants to understand more about children’s books. It provides the opportunity to try your hand at writing for different ages and reading stages.


Creative Writing for Beginners - Online Course
13 September - 18 October 2023, Wednesdays: 1pm - 3pm, FREE - £36

The course is for people who want to try out creative writing for the first time. We will focus on short writing exercises using pictures, different topics and prompts.
Details and booking


In Other Words - Developing your Poetry Writing - Beeston Library
14 September - 19 October 2023, Thursdays: 1pm - 3pm, FREE - £36

The course is aimed at beginners and those who have done some poetry writing but are not consistently published and will focus on developing learners’ skills so that they become more confident and are able take their poetry writing to the next level.
Details and booking


Creative Writing for Beginners - Newark Buttermarket
14 September - 19 October 2023, Thursdays: 2pm - 4pm, FREE - £36

This course is for people who want to try out creative writing for the first time. We will focus on short writing exercises, and also use images and prompts to kickstart your writing.
Details and booking


Grammar and Punctuation Explained - Online Course
14 September - 12 October 2023, Thursdays: 9:30am - 11:30am, FREE - £30

If you could never understand the difference between a colon and a semi colon, or between their and there and they’re, then this is the course for you!
Details and booking


Creative Writing - Polish Your Writing Skills - Arnold Library
15 September - 20 October 2023, Fridays: 6pm - 8pm, FREE - £36

You will learn about different elements of writing such as narration, description, dialogue, voicing internal thoughts and action. They will look at the use of language in detail, considering how to draft and edit, and write with purpose.
Details and booking


Creative Writing - I Can See a Rainbow - Newark Buttermarket
19 September - 17 October 2023, Tuesdays: 10am - 12pm, FREE - £30

This course offers you the opportunity to use colours to start and develop poetry and/or prose.
Details and booking


DH Lawrence and Nottinghamshire - Eastwood Library
21 September 2023, Thursday 10am - 12pm, FREE - £30

Discover DH Lawrence’s time in Nottinghamshire, from his childhood in Eastwood and his education in Nottingham, to his many other links to various places within the county.
Details and booking


Exploring Nottinghamshire's Literary Locations - Arnold Library
23 September - 14 October 2023, Saturdays: 10am - 12pm, FREE - £24

Nottinghamshire is awash with literary locations from the Arboretum to the Zara building. In this course you’ll discover many of the places that have influenced the life and work of our writers.

Details and booking


Creative Writing Taster (ReNew) - Newark Buttermarket
28 September 2023, Thursday 10am - 12pm, FREE

Work with our skilled writing expert to create your first piece of prose or a poem based on the theme ‘Where would I like to be in 2 years’ time?’
Details and booking


Byron in Nottinghamshire - Burton Joyce Library
10 October 2023, Tuesday 10am - 12pm, FREE

Take a look at the poet Lord Byron’s connections to Nottinghamshire. We explore why, as a boy, he first came to Nottingham, and explore his links with Newstead, Annesley, Southwell, Newark and Hucknall.
Details and booking


DH Lawrence in Nottinghamshire - Arnold Library
17 October 2023, Tuesday 6pm - 8pm, FREE

Discover DH Lawrence’s time in Nottinghamshire, from his childhood in Eastwood and his education in Nottingham, to his many other links to various places within the county.
Details and booking


Creative Writing - Exploring Nottinghamshire Authors - Ravenshead Library
21 October - 11 November 2023, Saturdays: 10am - 12pm, FREE

Develop your creative writing skill by exploring the work of Nottinghamshire authors from different eras and cultures.
Details and booking


Creative Writing - Fireside Stories - Online Course
6 November - 11 December 2023, Mondays: 9:30am - 11:30am, FREE - £36

Considering atmospheric stories told around a fire, you will create your own fireside story.
Details and booking


Creative Writing Short Stories - Next Steps - Mansfield Central Library
6 November - 11 December 2023, Tuesdays: 1pm - 3pm, FREE - £36

If you want to find out what it takes to write a publishable short story, this course is for you.
Details and booking


Getting Cosy with Poetry - Bingham Library
7 November - 12 December 2023, Tuesdays: 10am - 12pm, FREE - £36

As the blazing days of Autumn give way to the longer nights of winter, we often reflect on the seasons: what it means to the natural world as it prepares to rest, and what it means to us. 
Details and booking


Creative Writing - Writing a Children's Story - Newark Buttermarket
7 November - 12 December 2023m Tuesdays: 2pm - 4pm, FREE – £36

This is an intermediate course. It is helpful to have done the previous Inspire course How to Write for Children.    
Details and booking


Creative Writing Next Steps - Online Delivery
8 November - 13 December 2023, Wednesdays: 1pm - 3pm, FREE - £36

This course will help build on foundations from the beginners' course or for those who already have some experience in writing and need a refresher. Come and try techniques used to “keep a reader interested”. This course will also help you with your writing ability as a hobby or for publication.
Details and booking


Getting Cosy with Poetry - Southwell Library
9 November - 14 December 2023, Thursdays: 10am - 12pm, FREE - £36

As the blazing days of Autumn give way to the longer nights of winter, we often reflect on the seasons: what it means to the natural world as it prepares to rest, and what it means to us. 
Details and booking


Byron in Nottinghamshire - Ravenshead Library
9 November 2023, Thursday 10am - 12pm, FREE

Discover the poet Lord Byron’s connections to Nottinghamshire. We explore why, as a boy, he first came to Nottingham, and explore his links with Newstead, Annesley, Southwell, Newark and Hucknall.
Details and booking


Creative Writing - Short Stories for Beginners - Stapleford Library
9 November - 14 December 2023, Thursdays: 10am - 12pm, FREE - £36

Do you want to write short stories but don’t know where to start? Or have you  been writing short stories for a while yet would appreciate a helping hand?  This course is a relaxed exploration of short stories, including writing practice.  The course includes finding story ideas and creating characters as well as how to structure and develop your short stories. 
Details and booking


Creative Writing for Beginners - Next Steps - Newark Buttermarket
9 November - 14 December 2023, Thursdays: 2pm - 4pm, FREE - £36

This course is for people who want to try out creative writing for the first time. We will focus on short writing exercises, and also use images and prompts to kickstart your writing.
Details and booking


Creative Writing - Fireside Stories - Arnold Library                       
10 November - 15 December 2023, Fridays: 6pm - 8pm, FREE - £36

Join this course and consider atmospheric stories told around a fire, looking at origins and development, to create your own fireside story.
Details and booking


Exploring Detective Fiction - West Bridgford Library
11 - 25 November 2023, Saturdays: 10am - 12pm, FREE - £18

Do you enjoy detective stories? Would you like to learn about the history of detective fiction and discover new sleuths? If so, don your deerstalkers and join a published crime writer for an enjoyable exploration of detective fiction, from the early days of real crime and the introduction of the detective novel to modern crime thrillers.
Details and booking
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Saturday, 26 November 2022

In Search of James Prior

In the new publication from Spokesman Books, In Search of James Prior, Ailish D’Arcy has rediscovered one of the great Nottinghamshire writers, 100 years after his death.

In this study, James Prior emerges as an accomplished poet and novelist with a body of work that has been neglected for too long, a man who made a contribution to the study of Notts dialect that is unsurpassed.

On Saturday 26th November 2022, Bingham erected its first ever blue plaques. Prior’s two Bingham homes, on Fisher Lane and The Banks, now proudly mark where he lived and wrote his great novels between 1891 and 1922.

There’s also an exhibition inside Bingham Library.


In the course of her research Ailish has discovered Prior’s remarkable contribution to the recording of dialects. Her journey began after attending an Inspire course on Nottinghamshire’s literary locations at West Bridgford Library, a course that is being repeated in January 2023.
Ailish D'Arcy with John Baird

Publisher Tony Simpson reading from Forest Folk

It was on Mapperley Road near the centre of Nottingham that Prior was born. His first major novel, Renie, opens in Bingham (Bawton), and the local connections keep coming.

Ripple and Flood features Caythorpe and Hoveringham (both renamed) in a story about Prior’s beloved river, the “smug and silver Trent”.

Forest Folk is set around the Blidworth countryside during an eventful period of history that covers the Napoleonic Wars and Luddite riots.

Hyssop, his weakest book, is set in Burton Joyce.

A Walking Gentleman, which includes a ramble that passes through Notts, is the story of a gentleman who decamped on the eve of his wedding, making escape from the “madding crowd” and encountering many strange adventures on the way.

Fortuna Chance features Sherwood Forest.

Prior's grave

In Search of James Prior is available from Five Leaves Bookshop and The Bookcase in Lowdham, priced £7.

Bingham finally pays tribute to Prior