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HAY-ON-WYE: A BOOK LOVERS PARADISE!
Nowadays, many people read stories and news via computer devices; laptops, smart phones, kindles and so forth, which are wonderful resources for the written word and printed image. But before that was possible, throughout history (well, once shared written language and printing were possible) human beings have been lucky enough to have an older resource for learning, information and enjoyment. As Stephen King says all books are ‘a uniquely portable magic’. With this in mind I made plans to visit somewhere that excels in promoting the wonder and magic of books.
Hay-on-Wye is a small English town with a population of around 2,000 and on the border between England and Wales. Despite being so little, it is known for being a ‘book town’ with over twenty bookshops. And for the last thirty five years, it has also hosted a festival every year just outside the town, The Hay Festival of Literature & Arts, better known as the Hay Festival. This runs for 10 days from May to June and attracts writers and readers and bibliophiles.
When I visited Hay-on-Wye in August of this year, I had missed the festival, but I still got to see the many different bookshops in this eccentric little town. I love books and as a result one of my favourite shops is, of course, a bookshop! I was lucky and got to work in two different branches of Waterstones in my twenties, the last one was in…
