Our literary special begins by exploring the subversive art of Joe Orton and Halliwell who, in 1962 were imprisoned for 6 months for ‘crimes against library books’. Their acts of vandalism now hang as works of art in Islington Libary and their story will be told by Mark Aston.
Our headliner, Andy Miller, author of A Year of Reading Dangerously and co-presenter of Backlisted Podcast will deliver an inspiring and entertaining flip-chart lecture entitled, Read Y’Self Fitter. By the end of the night I promise he will have you hurrying home to read Moby Dick, Ulysses and War and Peace.
ANDY MILLER
What makes a great book? Should we finish difficult books or ones we don’t like? Why do so many of us lie about the books we have – or haven’t – read? With the aid of little more than a flipchart, Andy will guide you through his 10-step programme to cure you of your bad reading habits and encourage you to tackle those books you’ve always wanted to read but never had the courage to pick up. Expect a little audience participation and a lot of fun. Andy Miller is the author of The Year of Reading Dangerously and co-host of the popular literary podcast Backlisted.
MARK ASTON
In 1962 the playwright Joe Orton and his lover Halliwell were imprisoned for six months. Orton described his time in prison as ‘glorious’ while Halliwell tried to take his own life. Their crime was for defacing hundreds of books in Islington Library, replacing the covers with crude and often hilarious images. On some occasions they even re-typed jacket blurbs and glued them over the originals. One ended with the words’ have a good shit whilst you’re reading this’. Their handiwork is now displayed as works of art in Islington Library. Mark Aston runs Islington Museum and Local History Centre and will be speaking about these prized possessions.