Gladstones Library: Who Reads Old Ideas?
As part of the Writer in Residence programme at Gladstones Library (Britain’s only residential library), Scarlett and Sophie held an illustrated talk about how and why they adapt Edwardian political fiction into graphic novels. They talked through the motivations and processes that brought The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists and No Surrender to life, and even gave the audience some fleeting glimpses into what to expect from their next book, Ethel Carnie Holdsworth’s This Slavery (expected 2025).
The evening was well attended and good humoured, with the opportunity to have books signed and doodled in at the end. If you missed out ant would like to see what was said, you can access a recording of the event – and all other Writer in Residence events – by becoming a Friend of Gladstone’s Library. The Library is a charity and the generous Writer in Residence programme has significantly contributed to the formation of the Rickards’ next book.
Sophie was be in residence at Gladstones Library for two weeks in early January, then two weeks at the end of March. When you see how beautiful the Library is you may well be tempted to book a stay yourself. They offer amazing discounts for Society of Authors members.
You can read about Sophie’s experiences in January on the Gladstone’s Library blog, and you can get a glimpse of library life in these films from our TikTok feed:
