'This city has produced writers throughout the century'

To mark 100 years of city status, Stoke-on-Trent has inspired a major literary project. Keele University lecturer and author Dr Lisa Blower has created the city’s first ever literary canon as part of her “100 Books for 100 Years” project.

The canon brings together works by Potteries-born writers from across the past century, celebrating Stoke-on-Trent’s rich cultural and storytelling heritage, while also highlighting some gaps in the post-war years.

The project will now form a lasting legacy, with Stoke Archives planning a physical collection of the books, alongside work with local schools to inspire a new generation of writers and launch the city’s next chapter in literature.