22 May 2014
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Write a letter to an unknown soldier
Writers are invited to contribute to a war memorial made of words commissioned by 14-18 November WW1 Centenary Art Commissions ...
Writers are invited to contribute to a war memorial made of words commissioned by 14-18 November WW1 Centenary Art Commissions
The Letter to an Unknown Soldier project has been created by writers Neil Bartlett and Kate Pullinger.
'2014 is already proving to be a year jammed-full of commemoration,' they said. 'For us, the creators of the project, it is important to move away from the usual imagery associated with war and commemoration.
'We’d like instead to hear what people think – what they really think – and for them to write to the unknown soldier a letter. If they were able to speak to him now, with all that has been learned since 1914, and with all their own experience to hand, what would they say?
'This is everyone’s chance to be part of a new national conversation about remembering the war, and to have their voice heard. Their letter will be published online alongside those of our commissioned letter writers, and the entire collection will be added to the British Library web archive at the end of the project.'
The name of the project was inspired by the statue on platform one at Paddington Station of an unknown soldier, reading a letter.
Writers who have already committed to the project include Alan Hollinghurst, A.L. Kennedy, Andy McNab, Bonnie Greer, Daljit Nagra, Andrew Motion, Lee Child, Stephen Fry and Malorie Blackman.
If you would like to add your voice to Letter to an Unknown Soldier, the project welcomes letters (which may be send by post or online) up to the closing date of 4 August. All letters received will be published online, and available to read after 28 June.
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The Letter to an Unknown Soldier project has been created by writers Neil Bartlett and Kate Pullinger.
'2014 is already proving to be a year jammed-full of commemoration,' they said. 'For us, the creators of the project, it is important to move away from the usual imagery associated with war and commemoration.
'We’d like instead to hear what people think – what they really think – and for them to write to the unknown soldier a letter. If they were able to speak to him now, with all that has been learned since 1914, and with all their own experience to hand, what would they say?
'This is everyone’s chance to be part of a new national conversation about remembering the war, and to have their voice heard. Their letter will be published online alongside those of our commissioned letter writers, and the entire collection will be added to the British Library web archive at the end of the project.'
The name of the project was inspired by the statue on platform one at Paddington Station of an unknown soldier, reading a letter.
Writers who have already committed to the project include Alan Hollinghurst, A.L. Kennedy, Andy McNab, Bonnie Greer, Daljit Nagra, Andrew Motion, Lee Child, Stephen Fry and Malorie Blackman.
If you would like to add your voice to Letter to an Unknown Soldier, the project welcomes letters (which may be send by post or online) up to the closing date of 4 August. All letters received will be published online, and available to read after 28 June.
For all the latest publishing news, subscribe to Writing Magazine or download our app
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