With mountaineering ascents and disasters hitting our headlines on an almost daily basis, mountains and those who climb them are capturing the public imagination as never before.

Now, scholars from across the North of England are coming together to discuss literary and artistic responses to Britain’s mountaineering exploits through the centuries.

The ‘Mountain Legacies’ event, to be held at Newcastle’s historic Lit & Phil library on 21 May from 2-5pm, is free and open to the public. Speakers include Dr. Abbie Garrington (Newcastle University), Professor Simon Bainbridge (Lancaster University), Dr. Jonathan Westaway (UCLAN), Dr. Penelope Bradshaw (University of Cumbria). Dr. Chris Donaldson (Lancaster University) will chair the event, and there will be a chance for questions and discussion from the audience.

This event also serves as the launch for Mountains in Mind, a major new exhibition by Hexham-based painter Susan Dobson. Within the Lit & Phil’s main reading room, Susan’s paintings, drawings and journals from many expeditions (in the Himalayas, Dolomites and the Lake District) will be shown alongside selected items from the Lit & Phil’s collection of mountaineering and travel books.

Abbie Garrington, a Newcastle lecturer with a specialism in the literary history of mountaineering, and co-organiser of the event, said: “Everest is currently dominating the headlines, for very sad reasons, but the wide reporting of mountaineering stories in today’s media meets an increasing appetite for mountain tales amongst the public. We hope that this informal and inclusive event will allow mountaineers, writers, painters, and anyone with an interest in life ‘on the hill’ to get involved in the discussion.”Members of the public are invited from 5-7pm to have a glass of wine and explore amongst the book stacks. ‘Mountains in Mind’ will remain on display until 11 June.

Both events, funded by Newcastle and Lancaster universities, are open to all and free to attend. To book places (to hear the speakers, see the exhibition, or both), or for further information, please contact the Lit & Phil.

published on: 7 May 2014