A Literary Canon to Celebrate 100 Years

By Jerome Whittingham

To mark Stoke-on-Trent’s centenary as a city, local author and Keele University lecturer Lisa Blower is leading an ambitious new project, 100 Books in 100 Years. With Arts Council England funding and support from partners like Stoke-on-Trent’s Library Service, Keele University, and the New Vic Theatre, the initiative aims to recover and celebrate the works of 100 Potteries-born authors from 1925 to 2025, creating the city’s first-ever literary canon.

Author and Keele University lecturer Lisa Blower
Author and Keele University lecturer Lisa Blower. Photo: Jerome Whittingham.

Lisa, who launched the project on BBC Radio Stoke earlier this month, said the idea stemmed from noticing a “massive gap” in the local literature section of the library. “It began with me looking for my own books on the shelves,” she explained. “There was plenty of Arnold Bennett and Arthur Berry, but where were the other voices? Especially women writers from years gone by?”

The project is not only about recovering forgotten voices but also inspiring new ones.

A legacy initiative called The Places That Make Us is encouraging 11-to-16-year-olds to write 100-word stories about their home. Selected entries will feature in an anthology launching in 2026 to kickstart the next century of Stoke-on-Trent literature.

Another project will be Don’t Lose Your Place, 100 word stories which will be written on bookmarks and displayed in libraries across the city.

In just one week, the project has already received over 200 submissions, uncovering hidden gems like Pots and Plans, a 1930s pamphlet advocating workers’ rights. “People have gone into their attics and cellars to dig out books,” Lisa said. “I’m thrilled by the discovery of women authors who’ve been overlooked for so long.”

The project includes workshops, micro residencies, and events with established local authors, offering creative opportunities for all. Lisa hopes the canon will inspire future generations while filling historical gaps. “What I would absolutely love is to see 100 hard copies of books on a shelf in Hanley Library that people can borrow and use for inspiration,” Lisa said.

People are being invited to suggest books to add to the canon that meet the following criteria – authored by individuals born in Stoke (ST1–ST12) and traditionally published between 1925 and 2025. Submissions are being carefully validated with help from Stoke-on-Trent’s Archives and the British Library.

For more details or to get involved, visit Lisa’s website or email her directly.

Website: Lisa Blower

Email: 100potteriesbooks@gmail.com