Hi Folks,
We had our first Reading Detective meeting at Tonbridge Library yesterday. The team has an impressive range of interests and a great age span with a wide knowledge about all sorts of literary heritage and tastes which was great! We had a great discussion on the Jane Austen portrait which was very thought provoking and interesting. The team seems to be off to a great start and no doubt will uncover some fabulous finds along the way. If you would like to join the group we are meeting next on the 3rd of September 10.30 Tonbridge Library Local Studies when The group will be Looking for 'Hidden Gems' that are usually behind glass!Mallika Bhaduri, Customer Service Development Librarian and Rob Illingworth, Service Development Librarian will be throwing open the glass doors to help the literary sleuths find local treasures. The Team will also discuss their findings from the previous meeting.Come along and join in the fun!

Hi Folks,

'Hidden Gems' lost amongst the library shelves.......

The next meeting for Kent's super sleuths Reading Detectives team is on Thursday the 3rd of September, 10.30am at the Local Studies Section Tonbridge Library. The group will be Looking for 'Hidden Gems' with Mallika Bhaduri, Customer Service Development Librarian and Rob Illingworth, Service Development Librarian who will be throwing open the glass doors to help the literary sleuths find local treasures. The Team will also discuss their findings from the previous meeting. Come along and join in on the Fun!

Thanks to the Kent Super Sleuths Reading Detective team for a great first meeting! I really enjoyed it.

Hi Folks,

I've been sent some fantastic 'Clues' to uncover some great Kentish authors.

Dear Michelle,

I can see this project being overwhelming if every Kentish author is used, but I feel there are a few outstanding ones.

This list is not exhaustive at all - it is only what I know or what I think are good examples - there will be hundreds of others about which I know nothing.

Richard Austin Freeman (1862 - 1943): Detective story writer lived in Gravesend. He had a popular rival to Sherlock Holmes - Dr John Thorndyke - I am reading these at present and have enjoyed them. We have many of his books in our local history collection, some are autographed - he was friends with Gravesend Librarian Alex J Philip and was on Gravesend Library Committee.

Ron Hull - Northfleet poet, 3 books of local poetry about local places. Ron is still alive but now quite elderly.

Alex John Philip (1879 - 1955) - Borough Librarian at Gravesend 1903-1946, he wrote history, fiction, some children's stories, books on librarianship, books on Dickens. His autobiography was never published - it is libellous, he was in life an extremely pugnacious individual - not like me, his successor.

Montague Rhodes James (1862 - 1936): Great M.R. James ghost story writer - these are brilliant, although none are set in Kent. James was born in the vicarage at Goodnestone near Wingham - so that makes him Kentish.

Michael Gilbert - crime writer who lived at the old rectory in Luddesdowne near Gravesend.

Michael Baldwin - still alive, some of his books are in Gravesend Local Collection, many are still in general library stock.

Frank Richards (1876 - 1961): a massive writer of children's fiction - appealing mainly to boys such as "The Magnet" comic and Billy Bunter. He would have been read by every Kentish male who was a boy before the late 1950s. He lived at Broadstairs and had a house at Hawkinge.

Frank C Bowen - died c 1959. Lived in Gravesend wrote many books and articles on shipping on the Thames. We have many of his works in the Thames Collection at Gravesend Library.
Many local historians with published works - in Gravesham these include me (Christoph Bull), Robert Hiscock, Victor Smith, Jim Carley, Eric Green, James Benson, Arthur Allen (D 1987).
Robert Pocock (1760 - 1830) First history of Gravesend in 1797, introduced printing press to Gravesend in 1786.

Marcus Crouch (1913 - 1996?), Deputy County Librarian of Kent until 1978. He wrote books on Kent e.g. "Kent", Cream of Kent and he wrote a book on Kent authors - this will make your task easier.

Do also look at the two volumed "Kent Bibliography", available in most town centre libraries - and the current Kent Libraries and Archives catalogue.

Best wishes

Christoph Bull

District Manager, Gravesham Libraries.