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Writers delve into their bookshelves for the National Literacy Trust
3 Jun 2011
Books donated by popular writers including Alan Bennett, Tom Stoppard and Michael Morpurgo are being auctioned to raise valuable funds for the National Literacy Trust to help transform people‟s lives through literacy.
Sixteen well-known and much-loved writers have donated books, many from their own library, to the National Literacy Trust's Transforming Reads auction. Each book has been signed by the donor writer and includes a personal inscription explaining why they have donated the book and how the book transformed their life.
Candida Lycett Green has donated a book that was significant to her childhood, written and illustrated by her father, John Betjeman. Tom Stoppard has given the PG Wodehouse title "Leave it to PSmith‟ because it evokes an English experience of a precise kind…‟ The Gruffalo illustrator, Axel Scheffler has donated a copy of Shrek! by his favourite children‟s illustrator and author, and has illustrated his signature with a picture of the Gruffalo. Alan Bennett has also signed a book and doodled next to his inscription.
Director of the National Literacy Trust, Jonathan Douglas says:
“We're delighted that these leading authors have donated the books that have transformed their lives, so we can continue to transform lives through literacy. It's a worrying fact that in the UK today, one person in six struggles with their literacy. Poor literacy can negatively affect all areas of an individual‟s life – from housing and employment to relationships, health and happiness.
“The money from this auction will enable us to directly support the literacy of children and adults in disadvantaged communities across the UK. So please bid on these celebrity books and not only will you be the owner of a unique item but you will be helping more people to reach their potential in life.”
The full list of writers involved in the Transforming Reads auction and the books they have donated are:
- Antony Beevor – The Face of Battle: A Study of Agincourt, Waterloo and the Somme by John Keegan
- Alan Bennett – The Uses of Literacy by Richard Hoggart
- Malorie Blackman – The Color Purple by Alice Walker
- Lauren Child – The Shrinking of Treehorn by Florence Parry Heide
- Jilly Cooper – The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge
- Cressida Cowell – Peter Pan by JM Barrie
- Charlie Higson – Pop.1280 by Jim Thompson
- Shirley Hughes – William – The Fourth by Richmal Crompton
- Judith Kerr – The Wall by John Hersey Candida Lycett Green – Archie & the Strict Baptists by John Betjeman
- Sue MacGregor - Half of the Sky: How to Change the World by Nicholas D. Kristoff & Sheryl Wudunn
- Michael Morpurgo – The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono
- Axel Scheffler – Shrek! by William Steig
- Simon Sebag-Montefiore – Diaghilev: A Life by Sjeng Scheijen
- Tom Stoppard – Leave it to Psmith by PG Wodehouse
- Joanna Trollope – The Towers of Trebizond by Rose Macauley
You can view each book and the inscriptions online. The auction opens at 12pm on Thursday 9 June 2011 and ends at 2pm on Friday 24 June 2011.
All the books in the Transforming Reads Auction will be on display from Thursday 9 June to Sunday 26 June at the Barbican Library.
All proceeds from the Transforming Reads Auction will go towards supporting the literacy of disadvantaged communities across the UK., The National Literacy Trust needs to raise £1 million this year to continue their vital work supporting these communities so they can gain the skills they need to live happy and fulfilling lives.
- Ends -
For further information about the Transforming Reads Auction please contact Kate Wright-Morris or Truda Spruyt at Colman Getty on 020 7631 2666 or kate@colmangetty.co.uk / Truda@colmangetty.co.uk
For further information about the work of the National Literacy Trust please contact Anna Lindsay, Public Relations Officer on 020 7820 6256 or anna.lindsay@literacytrust.org.uk
Notes to Editors
Each lot will have a reserve on it and all details can be found online at: http://auction.literacytrust.org.uk
The National Literacy Trust is an independent charity that transforms lives through literacy by supporting those who struggle with literacy and the people that work with them. Find out how you can support our work: www.literacytrust.org.uk/support
The National Literacy Trust would like to thank all the contributors for donating their favourite books to this worthy cause, as well as their Patron, Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall, for hosting a literacy reception at Clarence House which first brought the contributors together.
Lots in the Transforming Reads auction will be on display in the Barbican library, TheBarbican Centre from Thursday 9 June to Sunday 26 June 2011.
The Barbican Library is the City of London's leading public lending Library with books, spoken word recordings, videos, DVDs, CD-ROMs, music CDs and scores available for loan.
Library floor, level 2 Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS www.barbican.org.uk
