St David's focus of literature landmark
It's 90 years since paperback books were invented in Exeter, after a publishing knight found himself at St David's without anything good to read.
Sir Allen Lane was inspired to found Penguin Books in 1934 following a visit to see Agatha Christie in South Devon.
Now there's a book vending machine at the station in honour of that piece of history.
Penguin was born out of a principle that high quality, engaging, and reasonably priced books should be available to everyone, anywhere. In 2023, Exeter City of Literature returned to this ethos with the introduction of the Penguin Books Vending Machine at Exeter St Davids.
This week Sir Allen's daughter Clare, and her husband, War Horse author Sir Michael Morpurgo celebrated Penguin’s official birthday at the station along with local authors, bookish influencers, Arts Council England, and members of Exeter’s creative industries.
Local business The Cakery created a confection in the shape of the Penguin Books vending machine.
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