A Secret History Of Thinking On Paper

Diaries are among our most precious items of heritage. No other kind of document offers such a wealth of information about daily life and the ups and downs of human existence. But where did this simple invention come from? How did they revolutionise our lives, and why are they such powerful tools for creativity? And how can using a notebook help you change the way you think?

In the first history of the notebook Roland Allen follows a trail of dazzling ideas, revealing how the notebook became our most dependable and versatile tool for creative thinking. In his book The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper he tells the notebook stories of artists like Leonardo and Frida Kahlo, scientists from Isaac Newton and Darwin to Marie Curie, and writers from Chaucer and Henry James to Agatha Christie.

Founded by Irving Finkel, The Great Diary Project’s idea is to collect as many diaries as possible from now on for long-term preservation. In the future these diaries will be a precious indication of what life, in our own time, was really like. Roland Allen is a publisher and author who lives in Hove. He studied at Manchester University and works in book (and notebook) publishing. He has written about subjects as diverse as bicycles and bread, kept a diary for decades, and enjoys stationery a little too much.

Presented by Conway Hall.

This is an all ages event. Under 16's must be accompanied by an adult.