two rivers press in reading uk home about newsletter catalogue events news orders search for two rivers press has been publishing in and about reading since 1994 . founded by the artist peter hay 1951 2003 the press continues to delight readers local and further afield with its varied list of individually designed thought provoking books . older posts tuesday 22 october 2016 book launch robinson s september in the rain posted on october 15 2016 by admin join us at 6.30 pm on 25th october for the launch of the novel september in the rain holland house by peter robinson two rivers press poetry editor . two young people travelling through italy are caught in the rain needing to hitch a lift and nothing will ever be the same again . a book about responsibility and love consequences and transformation . this is event is free to attend but booking is essential ; please rsvp through this page to reserve your place or call 01223 463200 . when tuesday 25 october 2016 from 18 30 to 20 00 bst where heffers bookshop 20 trinity street cambridge cb2 1ty united kingdom view map posted in events peter robinson poet editor leave a comment take a look inside a wild plant year by christina hart davies posted on october 7 2016 by admin click on the cover above and take a peek inside this wonderful book . order your copy here . posted in 2016 new archive christina hart davies author artist news comments off 6 october 2016 national poetry day celebrated with susan utting posted on october 7 2016 by admin how nice to wake up on national poetry day and to find that your poem appears on the poetry society page for the day . that is what happened to two rivers press poet susan utting . her poem elective mute was the poetry society s offering of the day . elective mute by susan utting inside her head she s eloquent knows all the answers words that tumble out in perfect clause and cadence words like clause and cadence beautifully enunciated to herself alone . like stories she makes up hobgoblin tales where small girls answer riddles save lives of princes tied to trees win golden treasure kept in chests and coffers like this her life is charmed she s powerful as a villainess whose thought spells turn a pinching boy to jagged stone a chalk faced mistress to a panting toad a matron to a pile of linen waiting to be scrubbed and starched flat ironed scorched . posted in 2016 new archive news susan utting poet comments off 6 october 2016 national poetry day celebrations feature claire dyer posted on october 6 2016 by admin the 40 stations of bbc local radio marked national poetry day by each broadcasting a poem commissioned from 40 bbclocalpoets each poet has adopted the voice of a characteristic local landmark or mascot from lincolnshire sausage gemma baker bbc radio lincolnshire to essex s infamous a12 luke wright bbc radio suffolk . two rivers press poet claire dyer created the oracle a poem celebrating berkshire . to see claire walking through the oracle reciting her poem click here . this is a joint project between bbc local radio the forward arts foundation and apples and snakes . claire dyer created the oracle a poem celebrating berkshire . posted in 2016 new archive claire dyer poet news comments off friday 23rd september sunday 2nd october 2016 botanical art & artists christina hart davies a wild plant year posted on september 27 2016 by admin for the last six years christina hart davies has been working on a book called a wild plant year . it has been officially launched at a large botanical art exhibition of the same name in hampshire . exhibition a wild plant year a solo exhibition is a major endeavour especially when it comprises 234 paintings all the artwork included in the book can be seen in the exhibition and it s all for sale . there are also more original works by christina for sale plus books cards and prints . you can see examples of christina s work on her website in terms of wild plants cultivated plants mosses and lichens and monochrome and line work for publications . these are the details exhibition a wild plant year venue sir harold hiller gardens jermyns lane ampfield hampshire so51 0qa this is the page of information for visitors to the gardens dates friday 23rd september sunday 2nd october 2016 opening times 10am to 5pm closing at 4pm on the last day posted in christina hart davies author artist events comments off review david cooke s a murmuration reviewed in the tls posted on september 14 2016 by admin we are delighted . a review of david cooke s poetry collection a murmuration appeared in the tls august 19 26 2016 . reviewer john greening wrote there are distinct successes such as the responses to rodin s the burghers of calais and bruegel s hunters in the snow and translations from mallarm supervielle jaccottet and rilke . the book is held together by love of place and a sober fascination with quirkiness a study of a koala a portrait of a belizean woman in a pub the english language itself there is much precision workmanship and a welcome lack of showiness in this collection from two rivers press whose publications are increasingly impressive . get your copy of a murmuration here . read more of the tls review of david cooke s a murmuration here . posted in 2016 new archive david cooke poet news comments off the book of snow by robert seatter poet review a wild plant year posted on september 12 2016 by admin i don t think i have ever seen a more attractive or informative book than a wild plant year this book is pure joy . thus meriel thurstan begins and ends her review of christina hart davies a wild plant year the history folklore and uses of britain s flora . read the book review in its entirety book review meriel thurstan a wild plant year by christina hart davies i don t think i have ever seen a more attractive or informative book than a wild plant year by swsba member christina hart davies . christina spent six years researching and illustrating the history folklore and uses of britain s flora and the result is nothing short of delightful . reflecting the seasonal appearance of over 200 wild flowers the book starts with the new year and finishes with yuletide and christmas every plant taking its place in its particular season . on the way we are told about special days such as easter mothering sunday hallowe en and so on and showcasing the plants with which these days are associated . every plant is beautifully illustrated with christina s characteristic delicacy and detail embellished here and there with her gentle calligraphy . i suppose it is pretty obvious when you think about it but so many plant names reflect their character or use greater stitchwort stellaria holostea was said to cure a stitch that sudden pain in the side ; pignut conopodium majus is adored by pigs and wild boar ; bee orchid ophrys aperifera really looks as though it is hosting a visiting bee ; milkwort polygala spp was supposed to increase the flow of milk in nursing mothers ; eyebright euphrasia spp brightens the eyes . broom cytisus scoparius is self explanatory but although you probably already knew that it was used by witches to fly did you also know that it was protection against them and that its bright yellow edible buds were served at the coronation banquet of james ii take this book with you when you walk through the countryside and you will be amazed at the number of plants that either have a history or a medical use or are simply edible . our forebears may not have had antibiotics and penicillin but they certainly knew their herbs and what had healing properties or would spice up their diet . or stay at home and read it enjoy the delightful illustrations and increase your knowledge of the history folklore and medical and edible values of our common and not so common wild plants . this book is pure joy . review in palette & petal the quarterly magazine of the south west society of botanical artists . reprinted with permission posted in 2016 new archive christina hart davies author artist news comments off what were trp s bestsellers at reading s turbine house event posted on september 12 2016 by admin as part of reading s year of culture 2016 and to coincide with national heritage open days rg spaces put on an exhibition of art and beautiful books including two rivers press books at the turbine house . celebrating reading s two rivers the kennet and the thames . the turbine house is a unique building that spans the kennet with waterside views towards reading town centre . it houses preserved turbine machinery and hosts occasional summertime art exhibitions and events . two rivers press best selling books of the weekend were john man s the stranger in reading gillian clark s down by the river the thames and kennet in reading and a wild plant year the history folklore and uses of britain s flora by christina hart davies . if you were unable to make the exhibit you can still purchase these bestsellers by clicking on the images below . posted in 2016 new archive news comments off saturday 10 september 2016 tour of broad street chapel & geoff sawers book signing posted on september 9 2016 by admin as part of the heritage open days in reading join us on a tour of broad street chapel and book signing . geoff sawers has chronicled the life of the very building in which this waterstones is located in his book broad street chapel and the origins of dissent in reading . he will talk about the building s history and lead a short tour around the public areas of the building . his book will also be available for purchase for him to sign and dedicate . please contact the store to book your place free of charge as numbers are limited to 8 people per tour . tours 12 00 12 30 pm & 3.30 4.00 pm starting at waterstones reading broad street book signing 15 30 16 00 at waterstones reading broad street cost free with ticket available in waterstones reading broad street store reading uk further details 0118 9581270 . posted in events geoff sawers author comments off saturday 10 september 2016 book launch peter robinson s september in the rain posted on september 9 2016 by admin waterstones reading broad street is thrilled to welcome the author professor peter robinson professor of english and american literature at reading university as he launches his first novel september in the rain . two young people travelling through italy are caught in the rain and hitch a lift with chilling consequences . this is a book about the responsibilities of love ; about accidents and decisions ; about choices and dilemmas . this event is free of charge and there is no booking required . when 17 00 where waaterstones reading broad street posted in events peter robinson poet editor comments off 8 11 september 2016 reading and its rivers exhibition posted on september 7 2016 by admin as part of reading s year of culture 2016 and to coincide with national heritage open days rg spaces invites you to an exhibition of art and beautiful books at the turbine house . the exhibition celebrates reading s two rivers . step out over the kennet river in this victorian turbine house with a great view of the weir originally