When I visit National Trust houses, the rooms I most look forward to visiting are the libraries. I love to study the shelves, uncovering the books that belonged to those individuals who called these places home. Seeing the worn chairs and sofas where readers sequestered themselves and the desks where their thoughts became words is a thrilling experience.
Books have been some of my greatest teachers, friends and confidantes. My life would be much emptier if I didn’t have the freedom to read a diverse range of stories, to discover new worlds in words.
Banned Books Week, which runs this year from 22 September – 28 September, is an opportunity to celebrate the power of reading and to commemorate the many voices that have been banned, censored or challenged in the past and today. Looking at the many authors and titles in National Trust libraries that have been subject to some form of suppression, I feel immense gratitude toward those who have experienced censorship, yet persevered nonetheless.
It wasn’t until 2017, however, when the National Trust initiated its Prejudice and Pride celebrations, that I truly began to appreciate the bigotry, censorship and struggles faced by LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) writers at our places. I learned of the tremendous determination, courage and strength it took for them to even attempt to publish their thoughts, feelings and ideas in the first place.
One of my favourite places – one that holds a significant place in the history of banned books – is Vita Sackville-West’s tower at Sissinghurst in Kent.