A Gladstone's Library staff member has pledged to read 24 stories in 24 hours to raise funds for Gladstone's Library.
Rhian has reached out to supporters of the library, where she will undertake the challenge, to suggest short stories for her to read for this fundraising challenge.
She said: “As the building I’m staying in is Victorian Gothic and all decked out for Christmas, I would love to have some classic stories from the 1900s and earlier on my list.
“If any authors are willing to ‘donate’ access to contemporary works, though, please get in touch!”
Peter Francis, director of the library, said: "The genius of Gladstone's Library is that it gives you the space, comfort and distraction-free time to read, write and think.
"People often say that you can do a month's work or reading, writing and thinking in a week here.
“Rhian should be applauded for trying to do a month’s reading in one night. Please support her in this effort to help the Library.”
You can donate to Rhian’s read-athon at https://www.gofundme.com/f/rhians-readathon.
At the time of writing, Rhian is half-way to her £300 target.
She said: “Thank you so much to everyone who has donated so far. The library is a registered charity, and though it has reopened and is bustling – in a Covid-cautious way, of course – every extra penny helps!”
The read-a-thon is scheduled to take place this weekend, but may be moved if all the bedrooms in the library are needed for guests.
The suggestions so far are:
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce
Eighteen Hundred and Four, from Thomas Hardy's Wessex Tales
Ghost Story by Dylan Thomas
Journey of the Magi, T.S. Eliot (yes, it's a poem, but we will allow it!)
When Angels Are Near by Casey Kelleher
The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry
A Christmas Tree by Charles Dickens
Extracts from Old Christmas by Washington Irving.
A story or two from Dubliners by James Joyce
Ingmar and the Winter Beast by Wendy Dalrymple
Selected stories from 365 Lies by Die Booth
Deep and Crisp and Even by Philip Gwynne Jones
The Dead Fish by Boris Vian
M.I.C.H.A.E.L by Jess Doyle
A number of suggestions have been made which Rhian will include on her reading list if copies are available and can be secured in time. These are:
Stille Nacht by Alison Leonard
His Last Fire by Alix Nathan
Long Distance in The Age of Grief by Jane Smiley
The Juniper Tree from Bark by Lorrie Moore
If your suggestion has been left off the list, or if you wish to add one, please email [email protected].