World Book Day 2023: some recommended reading for World Book Day

Even in this increasingly digital era, there’s nothing better than burying your head in a book. Streaming movies and music, scrolling through social media, finding cat-themed videos on YouTube and bingeing on “Happy Valley” have their place, but books will always have a unique appeal in their ability to forge intimate connections between two total strangers: author and reader.

As one of the world’s leading education establishments, the University of London includes many fine authors among its ranks. AS Byatt, Alan Hollinghurst and Stephen Spender are among the luminaries who have worked for the institution. The University continues to build on this fine tradition, with books by our academics receiving high praise around the world.

However, the University of London is not only lucky enough to count internationally respected authors among its academics – it also publishes books itself through the University of London Press (UoL Press), affiliated with the School of Advanced Study. UoL Press is a non-profit, predominantly open access publisher with a mission to support humanities researchers through its work and partnerships.

In early 2023, UoL Press is publishing two exciting books on two very different subjects. Both are available open access, meaning they can be downloaded and read by anyone, for free.

In January, Law, Humanities and the COVID Crisis was published. This striking new book addresses the immediacy of COVID-19 by focusing on the implications of the virus in a wider interdisciplinary context – through the lens of law, history, ethics, technology, economics and gender studies. The book is edited by Carl Stychin, Director of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and Professor of Law in the School of Advanced Study, University of London. Download a copy on the SAS website.

April sees the release of Anti-Communism in Britain During the Early Cold War: A Very British Witch Hunt, by Matthew Gerth. This book demonstrates that while policymakers and politicians in Britain sought to differentiate their anti-communist initiatives from the ‘witch hunt hysteria’ occurring in the United States, they were often keen to conduct – albeit less publicly – their own hunts as well.

Previous titles published by the Press and also published Open Access include Freedom Seekers and Coal Country, which was shortlisted for Scottish History Book of the Year in Scotland’s National Book Awards 2021.

Visit the University of London Press website to find out about more forthcoming books.

Times may change, but whatever is happening, the best way to understand – or escape from - our complicated world continues to be within the pages (virtual or physical), of a book.

Happy World Book Day!