Man Writes Novel in the Presence of Readers

“An Other British Library: The Library of One Book (In Progress)” is a live installation that places a writer completing the last stages of a novel in a library setting where visitors come and go. Four earlier drafts of the novel (“Lucy Speaks”) are available on the library bookshelf for visitors to peruse, as is the writer’s real-time work — projected on the wall.

This live art piece provides a quiet readers’ space where visitors interact with a single evolving text and its involved writer, and where library rules apply.

A soft copy of the first two chapters of the finished draft will be sent to visitors on New Year's Day.  These readers are invited to send back their comments, which will be gratefully received.

The first forty library visitors will receive a gift.

The piece is conceived by Whitney Smith in collaboration with Charlatan Tours, a walking collective, and Chris Setz. Whitney is currently working on a novel.

The event is held at 52 Phoenix Rd., a pop-up shop in Somers Town, Camden organised by Make-Do, a collective that activates spaces, people and communities to stimulate change.

DATE & TIME: Saturday Dec. 11, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

LOCATION: 52 Phoenix Rd., Camden, NW1 1ES (two minutes from the British Library and St. Pancras Station). MAP.

ADMISSION: Free.

Photo by Mark Zastrow