A Journey Through Time: Book Week Celebrations and an Inspiring Author Visit
This week, Senior School students have embarked on a literary journey through history as part of our Book Week celebrations of historical fiction. From time-traveling book recommendations to interactive challenges, the school has been alive with excitement for stories set in the past.
In assemblies, staff shared their favourite historical fiction reads, inspiring students with tales spanning centuries. Among the recommended books were The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernières, and The Island by Victoria Hislop. Tutor groups put their historical knowledge to the test in an online quiz, while around the school, pupils took part in a scavenger hunt, searching for hidden book covers and voting on the historical era they would most like to visit.
The highlight of the week came on Wednesday, when acclaimed historical fiction author Catherine Johnson visited to speak with Years 7–10. Catherine captivated her audience with a talk on her novel Sawbones, set in 18th-century London, immersing students in the world of a surgeon’s apprentice. With vivid storytelling, gory medical history, and insights into her journey as a writer, Catherine’s visit was both inspiring and engaging. Despite being told at school that she wasn’t a strong writer and disliking history as a student, she has gone on to craft gripping historical novels, write for television and film, and create radio dramas.
From thrilling book hunts to a masterclass in storytelling, this year’s Book Week has been a fantastic celebration of historical fiction, sparking curiosity and imagination in students across the school.
