Over the last eighty years the Penguin Classics series has become the largest and best-loved library of classic literature in the world. The books have been ‘hailed as the greatest educative force of the twentieth century’, as E.V. Rieu, the first editor of the series, observed in 1954. ‘And far be it for me to quarrel with that encomium, for there is no one whom they have educated more than myself.’ Henry Eliot, a former editor of Penguin Classics and author of The Penguin Classics Book, discusses the history of this remarkable series, from Homer’s Odyssey to Morrissey.

Henry Eliot describes himself as an author, editor and insatiable bookworm and has ransacked the libraries and archives of world literature compiling hundreds of bookish lists. He is the author of The Penguin Classics Book, The Penguin Modern Classics Book, Follow This Thread, and Curiocity: An Alternative A-Z of London. He has tackled a number of bookish adventures, such as recreating Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, leading pilgrims from Southwark to Canterbury and retelling the tales.  His book, Eliot’s Book of Bookish Lists, is said to contain “the sublime to the ridiculous – and everything in between, nuggets of trivia which will delight, inspire and surprise anyone who loves reading.”

Henry also hosted On the Road with Penguin Classics, the podcast that takes a stroll around the world’s favourite books. In each of the 30 episodes, he travelled to a different literary location to explore a great book in the company of a remarkable reader. Henry is the fourth in a great series of Penguin speakers at the Festival, covering topics such as book blurbs, cover design and editing.