2 March 2011
Eastbourne’s Redoubt Fortress is getting ready to join 20,000 others across the country to give away one million books as part of World Book Night 2011 this Saturday, the most ambitious and far-reaching celebration of adult books and reading ever attempted in the UK and Ireland.
The Napoleonic Fortress on Eastbourne seafront has been chosen as one of 20,000 givers and will distribute 48 copies of Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front between 5pm – 6pm on Saturday.
This is one of 25 carefully selected titles and tells the story of a young unknown soldier experiencing the horror and disillusionment of life in the trenches, appropriately picked to give away by the Redoubt, which is home to an impressive military museum showing artefacts dating back 200 years.
The first passionate readers to turn up at the Redoubt’s gate off Royal Parade on Saturday evening between 5pm – 6pm will be able to get their hands on a free copy of the World Book Night special edition copy of All Quiet on the Western Front as well as explore the top level of the historic landmark.
Eastbourne Borough Council Cabinet Member for Tourism and Leisure, Cllr Neil Stanley said “We are very excited that the Redoubt Fortress has been chosen as one of the country’s 20,000 givers to take part in the first ever World Book Night. The Redoubt represents a great piece of Eastbourne’s heritage and it’s very appropriate that they will be giving away copies of All Quiet on the Western Front. With the Redoubt opening for the season on 9 April, this is the first of many special events to look forward to this year.”
World Book Night is a dynamic and unprecedented industry-wide initiative to celebrate adult books and reading taking place two days after World Book Day and will be broadcast in partnership with BBC Two with a Culture Show Special on Saturday evening.
With just 48 copies of All Quiet on the Western Front to distribute, the Redoubt has already pledged to give 10 copies to adults from CRI Lift House, Eastbourne Substance Misuse Service and the remaining books will be available to the first keen readers to arrive at the Redoubt on Saturday evening.
For more information on World Book Night, go to the World Book Night website or to find out what else is on at the Redoubt this year, go to the Eastbourne Museums website.
