Whitwell poet in prestigious London literary club reading on YouTube

Richard C. Bower was invited to take part in an online meeting of the Authors’ Club – which is one of Britain’s oldest literary institutions.

The 45-year old read his nature-based poems from a collection he wrote during lockdown with the working title Pleasures in the Pathless Woods.

Richard said: “It was an honour to be invited by the Authors’ Club to read my poems, although I was bit nervous to think that people like Oscar Wilde have been members and lots of other other notable writers.

"They seemed to enjoy my poems and the feedback I received was all very positive. I have had a lot of views on You Tube. All in all, I think it went very well.”

The club – which was founded in 1891 – has premises in the National Liberal Club in Whitehall.

Past presidents have included George Meredith, Thomas Hardy, J.M. Barrie and Compton Mackenzie and notable writers such as Emile Zola, Mark Twain, Frances Hodgson Burnett and T.S. Eliot have spoken at its dinners.

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Richard is originally from Mansfield and was educated at the town’s former Queen Elizabeth Boys’ School.

He is now the international selling author of the poetry collection ‘Postmodern’.

Another recently released collection, ‘Sanctuary’, hit the headlines earlier this year when it was featured as a ‘top read’ in Amazon’s Top 50 Inspirational Books.

Richard, who now lives in Whitwell, is currently studying an MSc in journalism at Leeds Beckett University. He has written for most of his life and says it especially helped him cope with grief after after losing his mum Ann Bower, in 2013.

He has been recognised by UNESCO Nottingham City of Literature, Writing East Midlands, and Nottinghamshire County Council as one of the area's most prominent writers.

Richard has also collaborated on work with BBC Radio, Mansfield Town Football Club and OCD UK.

To see Richard reading his poems on the Author’s Club’s YouTube channel visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiAhHNQS850

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