Sidmouth Library to host 'augmented reality' installation on historical female writers

An "immersive" augmented reality installation on lesser-known female writers from the 18th and 19th centuries is set to come to Sidmouth Library from 12 to 26 January.

It features a book which, when a page is turned, a new chapter begins on a screen with accompanying audio.

The four writers featured in the augmented reality book are Elizabeth Montagu (1718–1800), Elizabeth Carter (1717–1806), Lady Rosalind Northcote (1873–1950), and Ethel Lega-Weekes (1864–1949).

The installation is called 'Unlocking the Cage' and was designed by author Kim Sherwood, who was shortlisted for the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award 2019.

Ms Sherwood said: "These few names represent a long revolution, from the rise of Bluestocking salons to the campaign for female suffrage.

"Immersing myself in the lives of these pioneering women connected me to a line of writers stretching back to the eighteenth century.

"I'm thrilled to bring their inspiring stories into the now with this exciting collaboration."

The experience is free with no booking required. It takes around 28 minutes to complete.