Stoneleigh Community Library welcomed a capacity audience of more than 30 literary enthusiasts on 12th June 2025 for an evening with acclaimed historical fiction authors Louise Fein and Matt Graydon.
The free event, which focused on the craft of historical storytelling, generated excellent feedback from attendees who praised both authors’ insights into their writing processes and the fascinating historical periods they explore.
Louise Fein, who was shortlisted for the RSL Christopher Bland Prize 2021, captivated the audience with a discussion of her latest work, “The London Bookshop Affair”. The novel explores espionage and nuclear tensions in 1960s London, continuing Fein’s tradition of illuminating unheard voices and unusual perspectives in her fiction. Her debut novel “People Like Us” has received widespread critical acclaim.
Matt Graydon shared the inspiration behind his poignant novel “Leaving Fatherland”, which offers a unique perspective on life in the Luftwaffe during World War II. The book follows protagonist Oskar’s journey from an abusive childhood in Nazi Germany through decades of personal discovery, drawing from true stories to create compelling historical fiction.
The talks were followed by conversation about literature, with both authors discussing their research methods and the challenges of writing historical fiction that honours the experiences of real people.
The evening furthered Stoneleigh Community Library’s aim to be a hub for quality literary events by bringing celebrated authors directly to the local community.
