Exeter is a UNESCO City of Literature

Exeter was awarded UNESCO City of Literature designation in 2019 in recognition of “outstanding contributions to culture and creativity” and the wealth of literary heritage in the city, thanks to a city-wide multi-partner bid.

The Hunt for Exeter’s Favourite Book Begins!

We’ve launched City Reads, a city-wide initiative to find Exeter’s favourite fiction book! We’re collaborating with organisations and community groups across the city to create a shortlist that the people of Exeter will be voting on this summer.

We want to celebrate Exeter as a place for book lovers while delivering greater access to books and making reading fun all across the city. Throughout City Reads, we’ll be running competitions & giveaways, as well as providing free books to neighbourhoods.

We’ve Unveiled New Literary Artwork at Exeter St Davids Train Station!

A permanent installation of new artwork was unveiled at Exeter St David’s station to celebrate Exeter’s UNESCO City of Literature status on World Book Day (Thursday 7th March).

The artwork, created by local artists Billy Ruffian (an artist alias of Isabel Keen) and Jack Ratcliff, honours Devon’s rich literary history and is supported by Great Western Railway’s (GWR) Customer and Community Improvement Fund.

The artwork located on the footbridge and lift footbridge at the station will be accessible to commuters travelling through Exeter St David’s.

Upcoming Literary Events across Exeter & Devon

The Book Market 2024

The Book Market will be returning to Exeter Cathedral on Sunday 9th June - watch this space for updates on Bookshops and Booksellers, Food and Drink, Bookish Activities and Special Guests!

Interested in stalling or hosting a bookish activity at the Book Market? Email Programmes Manager Liv for more information.

EXETER ON FILM!

A new short film celebrating Exeter as a UNESCO City of Literature

Watch our brand new short film celebrating everything that makes Exeter such a special City of Literature!

With original footage shot & edited by Preston Street Films, script by local writer Duncan Moreland, and voiceover by performance poet Shaday Barrowes-Bayewunmi, it’s jam-packed with literary activity from many of our Partnership Network pals who helped make this film possible.

With thanks to our Partnership Network, and the members featured in the film: Arvon Totleigh Barton; Arts & Culture, University of Exeter; Africa Writes and Roots Resistance; Beyond Face; Bookbag; Devon & Exeter Institution; Exeter Cathedral; Exeter College; Exeter Northcott Theatre and Barnfield Theatre; Exeter Phoenix; Libraries Unlimited & Exeter Library; Literature Works and Quay Words; Quirk Theatre; RAMM; Theatre Alibi; University of Exeter - English Department, Modern Languages Department, and the Library and Special Collections; Wellcome Centre for Cultures and Environments of Health.

The Penguin Book

Vending Machine

comes home to Exeter!

We loved partnering with Penguin Books and Great Western Railway to bring something special to Exeter…

Did you know?

  • Fact 1

    Exeter Cathedral is home to the Exeter Book, a 10th-century anthology of Anglo-Saxon poetry and riddles and the largest known collection of Old English literature still in existence.

  • Fact 2

    The Devon and Exeter Institution, an independent library located at 7 Cathedral Close, can claim having the earliest known professional woman librarian: Eliza Squance beat 20 male applicants to the job in 1849, though her appointment was conditional on her remaining unmarried.

  • Fact 3

    Allen Lane, the founder of Penguin Books, was inspired to create the paperback imprint while waiting at St David’s train station. Lane was returning from a meeting with Agatha Christie in Devon in 1934 when he found himself at Exeter St David’s with nothing to read. He conceived of paperback editions of literature of proven quality which would be cheap enough to be sold from a vending machine.

  • Fact 4

    The University of Exeter’s Special Collections department hosts the archives of famous writers such as William Golding, Ted Hughes, Charles Causley, Agatha Christie, Daphne du Maurier, and Sir John Betjeman.

  • Fact 5

    Exeter Library received more than half a million visits in 2019, making it one of the busiest buildings in the city and the 18th most visited public library in Great Britain. In the same year, the Library loaned more than a quarter of a million items, the fifth most issues in any public library in Great Britain over that period.

  • Fact 6

    Charles Dickens covered the Exeter City Council elections in 1835. Dickens later rented a cottage for his parents in Alphington and took libation at the Turk’s Head Inn on the High Street.

Exeter City of Literature.
Made of our stories.