On behalf of the Books section, allow me to warmly welcome you all to UEA and Norwich, the City of Stories! 

It is no wonder Norwich has such an illustrious title. This city is steeped in literary history, being England’s first UNESCO City of Literature; the home of Julian of Norwich (the first woman to write a book in the English language), the country’s only National Centre for Writing and, of course, the home of the very first creative writing MA courtesy of our own university. 

Just a short bus ride away from the University Drive bus stop (or a very nice longer walk if you fancy it), is the city centre. But look beyond the concrete jungle and you will find a treasure trove of bookshops nestled within the bustling city streets. Hidden away in the cobbled Elm Hill just off the river Wensum is Dormouse Bookshop, a lovely little independent bookshop stacked quite literally floor to ceiling with books old and new. A few streets over is Tombland Bookshop, which is home to more antiquarian second-hand books. Whilst some of the books available might be out of a student’s budget, just roaming the shelves here is a great inspiration to read more and immerse yourself in history. 

Indeed, if you are interested in the history of literature, then I would highly recommend paying a visit to the Julian Shrine – featuring St Julian’s Church and the reconstructed cell of Julian of Norwich. There is also the opportunity to book the shrine’s impressive Reference Library in the All Hallows Guesthouse as a quiet, reflective space for personal study. 

There are frequent literary events held in the city, such as the crime-writing festival Noirwich every September. The National Centre for Writing holds events year-round at Dragon Hall (which, fun fact, was a set in the classic television show Knightmare), which frequently include author talks and mentoring sessions. The upcoming Norwich Book Festival in late October is a new addition to the city’s impressive roster of events, and it looks to be one of its most exciting yet.  

Don’t feel like going into the city? The university has you covered. Every autumn the university hosts UEA Live, a series of intimate talks with authors. This year we are especially lucky to host Rebecca F. Kuang, Julia Armfield and Emma Flint. We are lucky to have an incredibly active literary community at the UEA, with widely subscribed literature and creative writing societies. I would highly recommend joining these if you are interested, as it is a great way to meet like-minded students in incredibly friendly and supportive environments. 

This is, of course, just the tip of the iceberg. Norwich is a city that needs to be explored fully first-hand to really appreciate its place in history and the wider literary world. So, whether you are a new or a returning student, I hope you enjoy discovering all that it has to offer. 

Credit: Daniel Garcia