The Lymiad, an epic poem of the Regency period, is finally published!

Lyme Regis Museum’s latest publication The Lymiad was launched at a reception in the Guildhall on Friday November 11. Written 200 years ago, the original manuscript of this long satirical poem about Lyme Regis is one of the museum’s major literary exhibits. Presented as a gift to the museum by glass engraver Laurence Whistler in 1978, its importance was immediately recognised by author John Fowles who was curator of the museum at that time.

Sarah Fowles, speaking of her late husband’s editorial involvement with the book said he would have been proud to see the finished publication: ‘He would have stroked it, as he did with all books he loved.’ And, as a designer herself often working in book publishing, she felt the book was beautifully produced.

The picture below shows Sarah Fowles together with John Constable, co-editor of The Lymiad, and Stephen Locke, chairman of Lyme Regis Museum.