Episode 3: Literature
In this episode, detective Mokshika is sent into the streets of Islington to investigate the borough’s rich literary past. Guided by local experts, she uncovers a web of connections between iconic writers and radical voices who shaped literature - and society itself. From the shadowy personal life of Charles Dickens to the rebellious legacy of Joe Orton, the evidence is everywhere - if you know where to look.
Stops on the trail include:
Northampton Park: Once home to Ellen “Nelly” Ternan, where her long and controversial relationship with Charles Dickens began - raising questions that still intrigue historians today.
Colebrooke Cottage, Islington: the home of Charles Lamb and Mary Lamb, co-authors of Tales from Shakespeare and central figures in a vibrant literary circle that included William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
Angel, Islington: a key meeting point near the Lambs’ home, where literary salons brought together some of the most influential thinkers of the Romantic period, including Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley.
25 Noel Road, Islington: the former home of Joe Orton, where his meteoric rise - and tragic death alongside partner Kenneth Halliwell - marked one of the most shocking literary stories of the 20th century.
Islington Library & Museum: where Orton and Halliwell’s infamous altered library books are preserved - once considered criminal damage, now celebrated as subversive art.
Islington guides, in order of appearance: Jane · Jonathan · Alan · Chris
Produced by: Sandy Waugh
With thanks to: Jane Parker and the tour guides at Islington Guided Walks
Presented by Islington Guided Walks and City St George’s, University of London
To book a walk or find out more, visit Islington Guided Walks
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