Top author visits Twickenham in major public library drive to promote Orange Prize shortlist to communities

 Orange Prize for Fiction winning author Madeline Miller (above) was at Twickenham Library for a sell out reading and signing of her new book on 31 May 2012.

The event was part of a major drive, supported by independent charity The Reading Agency, in which public library authorities are promoting books shortlisted for this year’s Orange Prize for Fiction to their communities, taking the excitement of the Orange Prize to far-flung reading audiences, often in places with no bookshops. (An astonishing 70% of library authorities are taking part.)

Madeline Miller’s appearance at Twickenham Library (London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames) was a rare appearance for the bestselling American author on British soil. She discussed her Orange Prize for Fiction winning book The Song of Achilles, a retelling of the classical story of Achilles and the Trojan War. Written over a ten year period, the book has achieved literary success on both sides of the Atlantic as a modern adaptation of classic Greek mythology.

Madeline Miller said: “It was an absolute pleasure to speak at the wonderful Twickenham Library. I loved ending my day with such passionate readers and booklovers!”

Libraries across the country have been hosting a range of Orange Prize for Fiction themed events. As well as winner Madeline Miller appearing in Twickenham, Gateshead Central Library held an Orange Prize Garden Party on the afternoon of Tuesday 29 May, Guernsey Library invited readers to join them for an Orange Prize Evening on Wednesday 30 May, Hull Library put on an Orange Prize Party on Tuesday 29 May, Nottingham Central Library hosted an Orange Prize event on Tuesday 29 May, and Windsor library invited avid fiction readers to a debate about the shortlisted titles on Wednesday 30 May.

Miranda McKearney, Director of The Reading Agency, said: “Libraries are changing. They now offer us all lively, social opportunities to share the year’s big reading moments, like the Orange Prize for Fiction. Their role as community hubs for reading has never been more important – show your commitment to our fantastic public library network by checking out your local library’s reading activities”.

Library reading groups of all kinds have also been getting involved with the Orange Prize for Fiction, including the Hertfordshire Book Group – an all-male reading group shadowing the Prize. Other reading groups shadowing the Prize include the Super Readers’ group at Kenilworth Library in Warwickshire and the Monday and Friday groups at Carlisle Library. Blogs about their progress can be read at www.readinggroups.org

Joanna Trollope, chair of this year’s Orange Prize for Fiction judges, said: “It’s thrilling to see librarians responding so magnificently to the chance to bring the riches of the Orange Prize to their communities, despite the current pressures. I recently opened Mansfield Library, one of the 40 new libraries opening in 2012/13, because I believe it’s vital to the campaign for libraries to get out good news about what they do for readers”.