This is a sponsored article on behalf of Cityread London.
Cityread Festival is back for its seventh annual celebration this May, and it's got one mission: to unite the capital over a single book.
And the book chosen for the task? Jessie Burton's The Muse.
Set on a hot summer's day in 1967 London, the novel follows the story of Odelle Bastien, an aspiring writer recently arrived from Trinidad. After struggling to find her place, she gets offered a job as a typist — and it's about to change her life forever...
It's a story that'll take readers to Andalucia and back, exploring sixties London and thirties Spain — and Odelle's journey is the perfect encapsulation of everything the capital is about.
Jessie Burton, said:
I’m truly delighted that The Muse will be London’s Cityread for 2018. It’s a novel that celebrates the diversity, humour and spirit of Londoners — both those who were born here and those welcomed in to make it their home
The month-long festival sees events take place across 26 London boroughs, exploring the book's themes of arrival, the creative process, art history and family secrets.
Think of it like a massive interactive book group, with everyone reading the same page-turner...
Just some of the events that bookworms can look forward to include a month-long interactive audio-digital installation, live music events, life-drawing classes, and workshops exploring stories from the streets of Soho, art and women in 1960s London.
Plus, don't miss In Conversation With... Jessie Burton at The London Library — your chance to hear from the author herself.
Cityread London takes place throughout May. Click here to find out more.