There is an exciting new chapter about to begin at Templeton Garden. To mark its official opening this month, the newly launched luxury lifestyle hotel from Miiro has forged a literary partnership with Raven Smith.
The very popular author and American Vogue columnist is presenting a specially curated selection of his best-loved books for guests and locals to enjoy. The project speaks volumes for the literary ambitions of Templeton Garden, which is located in a part of London with very strong bookish traditions.
The bespoke edit, entitled “Templeton Garden x Raven Smith,” includes such gripping novels as Don’t Look Now by Daphne Du Maurier, Alex Garland’s The Beach, Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton and Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr Ripley.
The collection also features Smith’s own witty novels Trivial Pursuits and Men, which The Observer called, “Wise, sharp and naughty”.
Left: Raven Smith with a few of the books carefully selected for this imitative at Templeton Garden.
Right: The cosy library at Templeton Garden A snug, where armchairs and quiet corners beckon you to settle in and lose hours in a good story.
Guests and neighbours of the hotel – a leafy oasis in Earls Court – can grab a book, settle into an armchair in the very comfortable library at Templeton Garden and lose themselves in another world. In addition, each guest will be left a book in their bedroom, accompanied by a note from Smith outlining the reasons behind his choices.
The author has been thrilled to work on the project. “Pulling this edit together was a fantastic walk down the memory lane of my bookshelves. There’s a bit of everything in there – some classics, some jump scares, all bangers! As a Londoner, and a life-long book lover, working with Templeton Garden to celebrate its launch and share the world’s greatest stories – in my opinion! – has been an absolute joy!”
Nicola James, Templeton Garden General Manager, also welcomes the edit. “We have a long history of great writers living in this neighbourhood, with the likes of Beatrix Potter, Agatha Christie and Alfred Hitchcock all calling it home. As we opened our doors at Templeton Garden, we wanted to honour that legacy while also giving a platform to new voices and conversations.”
She adds, “The library is one of my favourite spaces in the hotel, and I’m excited to see it become a focal point for local residents and guests – a space where everyone can read, tell and swap stories, and disconnect from the outside world.”
Thanks to the talented Mr Smith, the venture looks set to be an absolute bestseller.
Find out more, HERE.
Author: James Rampton
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