Join Devon author Sophie Pierce, in conversation with Ben Bradshaw, as they discuss her new memoir The Green Hill: Letters to a Son.
“The Green Hill is an extraordinary book…I thought of the fairy tale in which a captured princess must weave clothes from stinging nettles: Sophie Pierce has wrought something beautiful and useful from the darkest pain.” Cressida Connolly, novelist and critic.
Sophie will be reading from the book, which tells the story of the sudden and unexpected death of her 20 year old son Felix, and how the moors and coasts of Devon have played a powerful role in her grieving.
The Green Hill is, of course, a book about loss, but it is also about finding joy after bereavement. Sophie hopes the book will be helpful. “Grief is something we all experience. Loss is a part of daily life, and I hope that in sharing my experience, others might find perspective and perhaps even comfort.”
Sophie and Ben have been friends since the mid-1980s; they met in Exeter when Ben was working as a reporter on the Express and Echo, and later at BBC Radio Devon.
Cost: £4 - tea/coffee included
Accessibility Statement: The Library can be accessed via Castle Street which runs parallel to Exeter Library High Street. The Library connects directly to the Rougemont Gardens.
The Library is in close proximity to Exeter Central Station (roughly 5 minutes’ walk), Exeter Bus Station (roughly 10 minutes’ walk), and many connection bus stops on the high street.
There are five Blue Badge spaces outside the main entrance and four / five at the bottom of the slope (on Musgrave Row). These are all public Blue Badge parking spaces however and not dedicated to the library.
The are numerous car parks situated within walking distance of the building, including Guildhall Centre Parking (EX4 3HJ), John Lewis Car Park (EX4 6AH) and Princesshay Parking (EX1 1EU).
The entrance to the building is wheelchair accessible. There is a circular ramp, as well as a small set of stairs. As you enter, you walk into our foyer and café area and can continue through the building to the main library floor, children’s library, and accessible toilet. The second floor houses our quiet area. The third has our Rougemont Lounge and Balcony, and Rougemont Meeting Room. The fourth floor has the public toilets.
All floor are accessible using a set of customer stairs or a public lift. The public toilets on the top floor have four cubicles, one of which is accessible (and baby changing). The Rougemont Balcony is accessible via a small step, however we have portable wheelchair ramps that can be used to allow access.
The toilet in the children’s library is accessible and has baby changing facilities.
The library furniture and bookshelves are laid out in such a way to ensure wheelchair access throughout.