Today I was lucky enough to go along to a lunchtime reception at the House of Lords, celebrating the fact that Norwich has been named England’s first UNESCO City of Literature. Personally, I had no idea that Norwich had such a rich literary history, but this week I’ve discovered that it can lay claim to the following: first woman published in English, first recognisable novel, first example of blank verse, first municipality to adopt the Library Act, and of course the first British MA in creative writing. And those are just a few examples of its literary past.

I think it’s great that places like this, which spark great literature, can be celebrated in some way. Perhaps there are a multitude of other towns and cities, hidden away, which in the past have been teeming with great writers, publishers and revolutionaries. If you were to choose the next ‘City of Literature’, which place would you pick?

Sara Magness, Editorial Administrator