World Book Day is celebrated in more than 100 countries, with millions of people including teachers, pupils and parents participating in the United Kingdom. One of the main aims of the day is to promote reading for pleasure, offering every child and young person the opportunity to have a book of their own.
Here in Portsmouth, we are blessed with a rich literary history – and even today, still have some world-class writers who call the city their home.
5. Jane Austen
Jane Austen, author of Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma and many more novels, frequented Portsmouth to visit her brothers, who were in the Royal Navy. Like Wells, she wasn’t particularly keen on the city either. But she adored Hampshire, with her home in Chawton near Alton now a museum. | PA Photo: PA
6. Pauline Rowson
Casting our minds forward to today, and the city still has a strong connection to the literary world. Hayling Island author Pauline Rowson has taken inspiration from Portsmouth, Southsea and Port Solent for her DI Andy Horton series, and Neil Gaiman – best-known for The Sandman, Good Omens and the Dr Who episode Nightmare in Silver – lived in Portchester, then Purbrook and Southsea, when he was younger. | Contributed Photo: -
7. Neil Gaiman
Author Neil Gaiman was born in Portchester and is known for his short fiction, novels, comic books, audio theatre, and screenplays. His works include the comic series The Sandman and the novels Good Omens, Stardust, Anansi Boys and The Ocean at the End of the Lane for which a road in Southsea is named after. | Getty Images for Writers Guild o Photo: Getty Images