As autumn draws in, there is nothing quite like curling up with a good book, a delicious drink and somewhere comfortable to settle in. Libraries have always held a special place in our hearts. They are rooms designed not simply for reading, but for lingering, daydreaming and getting lost in another world.
This autumn, our much loved Book Salon series at Firmdale Hotels returns, bringing together some of the most distinctive voices in literature for intimate evenings of conversation, audience Q&As and book signings. What better place to begin than Charlotte Street Hotel, tucked away in the heart of creative Fitzrovia. With interiors inspired by the Bloomsbury Group, original artworks by Vanessa Bell, Duncan Grant and Roger Fry sit alongside richly layered fabrics, pattern and colour. It has the feeling of a home belonging to an exceptionally artistic friend, somewhere you might arrive for a cup of tea and find yourself staying for dinner.
Book Salon with Jacqueline Wilson: Monday 28th September, 6:30pm–8pm
Beloved British author Dame Jacqueline Wilson discusses her latest adult novel, Picture Imperfect, a sequel to The Illustrated Mum. Expect an evening of storytelling, family drama and self-discovery. Make an evening of it with dinner or drinks at Oscar, Charlotte Street Hotel’s lively European brasserie, the perfect place to continue the conversation afterwards. Discover more and book tickets here.
Book Salon with William Boyd: Monday 19th October, 6:30pm – 8pm
Acclaimed novelist William Boyd joins journalist and author Kate Maxwell to discuss Cold Sunset, the latest instalment in his Cold War espionage series. Explore a world of shifting loyalties, devotion and deception in what promises to be an intriguing evening of literary conversation. Before or after the talk, continue the evening with a drink at Oscar’s atmospheric cocktail bar. Discover more and book tickets here.
The Book Salon series continues across the Atlantic at Warren Street Hotel in New York, bringing the same spirit of conversation, storytelling and shared ideas to a new setting.
Belle Burden In Conversation with Dani Shapiro: Monday 19th October, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
This autumn, join acclaimed author and attorney Belle Burden and bestselling author and creator of the hit podcast Family Secrets, Dani Shapiro, at Warren Street Hotel. The pair will discuss Belle’s celebrated debut memoir, Strangers, in the hotel’s light-filled Orangery, surrounded by vibrant interiors and contemporary art. Discover more and book tickets here.
It feels fitting that the Book Salon should travel between two cities celebrated for their creativity, culture and distinctive design voices. Whether in Fitzrovia or New York, the idea remains the same: to bring interesting people together in beautiful surroundings and give them time to talk, listen and share ideas. For us at our Design Studio, good design is about creating spaces that invite people to live, gather and tell stories. A library does exactly that. Every book introduces a new character, a new landscape or a new idea, while the room around it becomes part of the experience.
This autumn, we invite you to pull up a chair, settle in and stay awhile. There is always another story waiting to be discovered.