‘Sussex Literary Landscapes’

Sussex is, after London, the county with the most literature devoted to it. As such there is a rich archive to delve into to illustrate the county going back over 1,000 years. Travel writings from Defoe, Cobbett and Celia Fiennes; diary entries from the 18th century, 19th century government reports, novels from Hamilton and Greene, and press advertising. All give us a sense of how our county landscape was noted over time. The quotes are illustrated using period and modern images of the locations described showing the ‘Continuity and Change’ that gives us the Sussex we know today.

Geoffrey Mead was born and raised in Brighton, attending Brighton, Hove & Sussex Grammar and later as a mature student, University of Sussex, where he took a PhD in Brighton’s interwar suburban history. From 1997-2002 he was a tour guide on the West Pier [leading the penultimate tour!] and has been a Trust member ever since. He gives talks on local history across the South East England, having worked with BBC Radio 4 and TV and takes guided walking tours around the city and county locations.