Living in the Past (And Present) Creative Writing Inspired by Archives

This anthology of poetry and prose presents an imaginative retelling of some of the human stories that might have been lived in Southampton's long history. From the family who can trace their ancestry for centuries to a refugee from Hitler's Berlin; from the complicated relationships of participants in a World War 2 wedding to the experience of life during a global pandemic - this collection provides glimpses into human concerns and motives that remain unchanging. Drawing on archive material - historic newspapers, personal diaries, photographs, and collated research - alongside the authors' own memories and family documents - the range of stories, poems and factual accounts presented in this anthology illuminate the details of our ancestors' lives, while reminding us that people's hopes, fears, desires and dreams reflect universal themes.