We are delighted to announce the Top Twenty Books That Rock Essex – old and new – as part of our 20th Birthday celebrations in partnership with Essex Libraries and BBC Essex. The Top Twenty are either based or partially set in Essex, and have been nominated by readers across Essex over the last few weeks via an open call.
To find a winner, all you have to do is to email your favourite book from the list to ros@essexbookfestival.org.uk. We will announce the winner at Essex Book Club Symposium in Chelmsford Library on Thursday 28 March.
Heart of Darkness – Joseph Conrad – Tilbury Dock
War of the Worlds – HG Wells – Essex Coast
Secret Waters – Arthur Ransome – Hamford Waters
We Didn’t Mean To Go Sea – Arthur Ransome
The Essex Serpent – Sarah Perry – Colchester
Dracula – Bram Stoker – Purfleet
Oaken Heart – Margery Allingham – Tolleshunt D’Arcy
Starter for Ten – David Nicolls – Southend-on-Sea
Turn of the Screw – Henry James- Essex country house
The Witchfinder’s Sister – Beth Underdown – Manningtree
Mehalah – Sabine Baring-Gould – Mersea
The Forgotten Seamstress – Liz Trenow – Braintree
Strange Magic – Syd Moore – Manningtree
Hiding From the Light – Barbara Erskine – Mistley
1984 – George Orwell – Colchester
The Peregrine – JA Baker – Essex Coast
Sharpes Regiment – Bernard Cornwell – South Essex
Moll Flanders – Daniel Defoe – Colchester
Barnaby Rudge – Charles Dickens – Chigwell
The Mysterious Affair at Styles – Agatha Christie – Essex Country House
