Reading the Forest
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Click on an author to find out more
Winifred Foley aged approximately fourteenPicture

Winifred Foley

Born in Brierley, her memories of growing up in the Forest were broadcast on BBC Radio's Woman's Hour, launching her career as a writer. Read more...
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Leonard Clark

This poet, biographer, editor, and educationalist grew up in Cinderford. Read more...

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Harry Beddington

Humourist, poet, commentator, and playwright. He was a master of Forest dialect. Read ​more... 
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Flora klickmanN

Author, journalist and editor of the Girls' Own  Paper she reached a huge audience with her Flowerpatch series set in Brockwier. ​Read more...
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F. W. Harvey

A towering influence on the literary heritage of the Forest of Dean and Gloucestershire. He was a poet, broadcaster and solicitor with a remarkable talent and profound love for his native County and the Forest of Dean. Read more...
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Joyce Latham

Poet, author, and performer, Joyce Latham wrote with warmth and humour about the people and places of the Forest of Dean. Read more...
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BILL TANDY

A much loved Forest doctor who in his writing demonstrated a respect, understanding and fondness for his adopted community. Read more...
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DENNIS POTTER

Transforming television with memorable and experimental drama, his writing spanned fiction, documentary, stage and screen. Read​ ​more...

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keith morgan

Poet, performer and campaigner, Keith has made a significant contribution to putting Forest dialect into print. Read more...

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HUMPHREY PHELPS

He wrote about farming lives, and on the Forest of Dean. His books of old photographs document the lives of Forest communities.
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Maggie Clutterbuck

Contemporary
poet, novelist, creative writing teacher, and former Forest Bard.  Read more...
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Ada  M.  Trotter 
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lawrence severn

Journalist and novelist,  she emigrated to Canada, then to the USA. Her only two novels are both set in the Forest of Dean.
Read more...
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sarah franklin

Journalist, lecturer, book reviewer & author, it was her native Forest of Dean that inspired her to write her first novel. Read more...
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Margaret Mushet

Journalist who wrote about the Forest, and part of the famous family of metallurgists. Read more...
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Joanna trevor
Maureen davies​

 Lydney author of detective fiction novels featuring DCI Simon. Read more... 
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dr charles f. grindrod

Doctor, photographer, poet and author who lived in Malvern. He wrote Tales in the Speech House. Read more... 
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xAVIER 'GYPSY' PETULENGRO

This world famous Romani writer, broadcaster, businessman  and personality is buried at Viney Hill. His funeral was seen by thousands. Read more...
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S. M. Crawley-Boevey

Sybella Mary wrote two volumes of stories drawing on the history of the family seat of Flaxley Abbey. She wrote children's stories, novels, and for magazines. Read more...  
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sTEWART CARSWELL

Contemporary poet, writing evocative poems of place. Read more...
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Mabel K. Woods

Author of the definitive 1912 history of Newnham-on-Severn. Read more...
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james playsted wood

A successful US author, editor and educator, he had ancestral connections to the Forest. He wrote an historical children's novel set in the Forest of Dean. Read more...
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thomas mayne-reid

This Irish-born adventurer and author spent time in America and Mexico, coming to know the Forest of Dean whilst he lived near Ross-on-Wye. Read more...
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valerie grosvenor-myer

Born in Soudley she witnessed the 1989 events in Tiananmen Square, China. A successful journalist, academic, critic, poet and novelist. Read more...
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Ray wright

He opened a disused iron mine in Clearwell creating a tourist attraction, became one of the Queen's Verderers, and wrote books on the Forest blending fact and fiction....
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Rev. h. g. nicholls

He arrived to be curate of Holy Trinity Church, Drybrook and became fascinated by the Forest of Dean. His three books on the area has led him to be known as 'the first historian of the Forest'. Read more...
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hebe weenolsen

A writer of historical novels she was born in England  but moved to America after marrying a movie writer and producer. The 12th century Forest is at the heart of one of her gripping story.
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Phillip john ducarel

His epic poem set during the Wars of the Roses was full of local detail that captured the landscape of the Forest, and the spirit of its inhabitants. Read more...  
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john berger

Living for a short time in Newland, Forest of Dean, he got to know a St Briavels' GP, and with photographer Jean Mohr, created 
A Fortunate Man.  
​Read more...
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LOUISE LAWRENCE
 liz holden

This prolific novelist found her niche in young adult fiction, often inspired by the landscape and people of the Forest. Read more...
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Catherine dREW

This labouring-class woman became known as 'the Forest poetess' for her c19th poems that documented life in the Forest of Dean. Read more...
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Tom Bevan

His family moved to Gloucester when he was a boy, where he trained to become teacher  He went on to be a prolific author of history & adventure books for boys. Two of his books were set in the Forest of Dean. Read more...
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J. K. Rowling

Phenomenally successful author of the Harry Potter series, and other books.  As a teenager she lived at Tutshill, and attended Wydean School where some of her teachers seem to have been the inspiration for two her Hogwarts' teachers. In Deathly Hallows Pt1 Hermione remembers the Forest of Dean from childhood holidays and its there that she, Harry and Ron escape to.
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edna healey

Having been born and educated in Coleford she went on to graduate from Oxford University and qualify as a teacher. She became a successful biographer and broadcaster. Read more...
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Andrew Taylor

Multi-award winning author known for his detective, and historical, fiction. The location of his 'Lydmouth' series draws inspiration from the Forest of Dean and surrounding area. His collection Fireside Gothic (2016) includes a story set in the Forest. 
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cyril hart

HM Verderer, authority on sylviculture, forestry, and preeminent historian of the Forest of Dean.
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james g. wood

A successful lawyer, he wrote one of the most valued books on the special laws relating to the Forest of Dean. Read more...​
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ralph anstis

Forest historian, novelist, dramatist, and community radio broadcaster, his popular 1986 book about Warren James reignited local interest in the leader of the 1831 'riots'.  
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arthur percival keen

A successful Bristol businessman he published his first novel in his eighties. His second, remembering the Forest of Dean of his youth, was published more than sixty years after his death. Read more...
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Rev. William wickenden

A prolific, popular author and occasional poet, he boasted Charles Dickens amongst his many readers. Born at Etloe on the banks of the River Severn he became friends with the vaccine pioneer Dr Edward Jenner who mentored him and later dubbed Dubbed 'The Bard of the Forest' this Etloe-born curate boasted Charles Dickens amongst his many readers. Red more...
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Rev. R. J. Mansfield

He was a founding member of the Forest of Dean Local History Society, and wrote a concise popular history of the Forest. Read more...
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Copyright © 2016
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Authors
  • Books
  • PODCAST
  • News & Features
  • Contact Us / get involved
  • Teacher Resources
    • A Forest of Dean Anthology
  • Making Words Count
  • Literary Landscape Map
  • Forest literary history timeline
  • Events