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The city of Exeter has many great things – beautiful scenery, stunning architecture, and a pretty good University (although I may be slightly biased). But did you know our wonderful home is also a UNESCO City of Literature? As someone who has just completed their undergraduate English degree, and is about to commence their MA Publishing course, I wanted to explore exactly what makes Exeter such a hub of literary goodness.
When did Exeter become a City of Literature?
Exeter became a UNESCO City of Literature in 2019, joining 65 other cities globally (at the time) In 2021, the brilliant charity Exeter City of Literature was born, aiming to champion the art of storytelling and promote Exeter’s literary heritage.
A Brief Literary History
Fellow English students, I’m sure you will have been told about the iconic Exeter Book. This Anglo-Saxon anthology documents the largest known collection of Old English literature still in existence. This book precedes even Beowulf! From the beginning, Exeter has been featured in literature and inspired many writers from Tom Hardy to Charles Dickens.
Literary Place in Exeter You Need to Explore
Exeter Cathedral:
The stunning Exeter Cathedral is home to the Exeter Book, which was donated in 1072!
Exeter St David’s (yes, really!):
If you frequent Exeter St David’s regularly you may have spotted the plaque commemorating the one and only Sir Allen Lane – who was inspired to create the hugely successful publishing house Penguin Books after passing through the station! If you feel like you need a good train read, make sure to visit the Penguin Books vending machine, which is home to all the latest releases and page-turning classics from Penguin.
University of Exeter:
Of course, our very own Streatham Campus is home to all the literary goodness you need, housing archives of famous writers like Agatha Christie and Daphne Du Maurier. Special Collections manages precious titles from archives to rare books – and sometimes students get the opportunity to explore these historic pieces in seminars! Literary hotspots on campus include The Bill Douglas Museum, The Old Library and the Forum Library.
Powderham Castle:
The beautiful Powderham Castle, located just south of Exeter, is home to a rich literary history. The Courtenay family, who built the castle in 1391, were avid collectors across the years. They amassed a huge collection of texts, such as the commissioned Courtenay Cartulary, which documents the early histories of Devon.
Bookbag:
Bookbag, located in McCoys Arcade in Fore Street, is an independent bookstore with a particular passion for local-global texts. The shop also hosts an array of brilliant events such as Africa Writes – Exeter and talks with authors such as Mikaela Loach.
Book Cycle:
After taking a wander to Bookbag, head further along Fore Street onto West Street to find the quaint Book Cycle. This gorgeous building is an absolute gem, housing every type of book you could imagine. You can donate what you would like and take up to three books per day, and the shop encourages you to donate all your completed reads!
Famous Literary Alumni
Did you know the University of Exeter has quite a few literary alumni? The iconic writer Dolly Alderton, actress Vanessa Kirby, environmentalist and author Steve Backshall have all called Exeter their home.
Community Library
The Students’ Guild also has its own Community Library! Located in Devonshire House, the library hosts a selection of books – fiction and non-fiction – which convey something of the diverse lived experiences of our campus community. Books are free to take, but please return them for others to enjoy! There are sometimes book club events too, keep an eye on what’s on.
What’s Coming Up for Literature Fans…
You can head to Visit Exeter to keep up with any literary events happening in our wonderful city! Notable events include The Book Market and Africa Writes – Exeter! At
the University you can get involved with Literature Society and English Society, both of which cater to any bookish person wanting themed socials and a whole lot of reading.