England's literary south east coast

 
Last weekend I was lucky enough to spend some time down on the south eastern coast of England in Rye and Hastings, with some tea in Appledore for good measure. As a Londoner, I've always visited the South East and have done since I was a kid. We used to brave the crowds at Camber, go mad in the arcades at Hastings, potter about the shops in Rye and soak up the history at Leeds and Hever Castle. What I never really appreciated, though, was the literary side of things.
Rye, for instance, is the home to Lamb House. It's a beautiful Georgian house with a stunningly well-kept walled garden where English novelists Henry James and E.F. Benson once lived. It is also the subject of Joan Aitken's novel, The Haunting of Lamb House, one part of which features Henry James himself. The house has also been home to other successful writers, literary agents and publishers alike.

Moving down the coast to Hastings and you find yourself back in Dickens territory. Although Charles Dickens is not thought to have ever actually lived in the charming seaside town, he did perform readings of his works at the Music Hall there. Sadly, but not altogether surprisingly, this building no longer exists and in its place stands a Wetherspoons. When Dickens visited, he supposedly stayed at the Marine Hotel in Pelham Place, which, again, no longer exists. Another writer that spent time in Hastings was Lewis Carroll, who spent summers with his aunts at 2 Wellington Square. It is thought he visited the Royal Concert Hall in St Leonards and preached in St Mary Magdalene Church.

My favourite bookish feature of Hastings, however, was Boulevard Books. By day, it is a charming bookshop where you can browse and buy as you please but by night you can dine there, right amongst the bookshelves, and eat delicious Thai food! Two of my favourite things.. Thai food... and books. Yum!