A very special evening at Topping and Company Booksellers has celebrated emerging artistic and literary talent with the launch of King Edward’s School’s own book, Anthology.
The book is a collection of published short stories, poetry, photography and painting by the talented young writers and artists of King Edward’s Senior School.
Family, friends, pupils and local authors gathered at the bookshop for an evening of literary and artistic discussion which saw pupils, ranging in age from 12 – 18yrs reading from, and talking about, their work.
Celebrated children’s novelist Joanna Nadin was amongst the guests.
She said: “The launch was a fantastic showcase for some seriously talented young writers, of whom I am both in awe, and horribly jealous.”
The Anthology, which is in its third year, is the brainchild of KES English teacher, Catherine Bruton, herself a critically acclaimed novelist for young people.
“The standard of writing and artwork at KES is exceptionally high,” said Bruton.
“The Anthology is a fairly unique venture of which the pupils and the School can be incredibly proud.”
During the evening the young authors had a chance to mingle and chat with published authors including debut novelist Sarah Benwell, screenwriter Stuart Harcourt and Costa nominee Rachel Heath.
“It was a wonderful to hear these young talented writers reading from their work, and I was so impressed by their quiet confidence,’ observed Rachel.
“The standard of the work was extraordinarily high; so many voices brimming with talent, humour and insight. The evening buzzed with creative energy. I loved every minute of it.”
Proud of its artistic tradition, KES boasts a strong writing tradition, with a thriving Creative Writing Society; an annual Poetry Competition, which has been running for eight years; and a Short Story Competition, judged each year by a different celebrated children’s author.
The theme of this year’s Poetry Competition, A Picture Can Tell a Thousand Words, saw pupils from all year groups writing verse inspired by a range of stunning artwork produced by current GCSE and A Level Art and Photography students (and featured in The Anthology).
Meanwhile the Short Story Competition, which this year attracted a record 203 entries, asked pupils to contemplate the theme Man and Beast.
Children’s and Young Adult novelist Anthony McGowan was this year’s judge.
“What an incredible collection of writing! Hugely ambitious, beautifully observed, moving and profound,’ McGowan said.
“In my view, many of these authors could go on to be professional writers.”
Drawing its contents from these two competitions, The Anthology is a rich and thought-provoking fusion of words and images, and covers a diverse range of topics, from donkeys to death, and from seasons to siblings.
Readers can enjoy figuring out connections between words and pictures, or sit back and immerse themselves in page-turning stories of witchcraft, war and wonder in genres that range from magic realism to satire.
