Literary Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a small county with a big footprint in classic English literature. A lot of well-loved books are set in our county. If you’re a book lover or just curious about local literary connections, here are some top picks where Hertfordshire makes its mark.
1. Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
Hertfordshire is where it all begins in one of the most beloved novels of all time. The Bennet family live in Longbourn, which is set in the county. Meryton — the town where the girls go shopping, gossip, and bump into Mr Darcy — is believed to be based on towns like Hertford or Harpenden.
2. Bleak House – Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens’ much-loved gothic drama, uses St Albans as a key setting. The gloomy but oddly comforting Bleak House itself is thought to be based on properties in and around the town. Dickens visited St Albans regularly — if you’ve ever strolled through the Abbey or past the old gatehouse, you’ve probably walked through his inspiration.
3. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams
Douglas Adams’ sci-fi comedy classic begins in Hertfordshire. Arthur Dent, our bathrobe-wearing hero, lives in a quiet village about to be flattened for a bypass (before Earth itself gets destroyed). Adams was born in Cambridge but grew up in East Hertfordshire, and you can feel that “quiet English village meets intergalactic chaos” vibe from the very first page.
4. The Diary of a Nobody – George and Weedon Grossmith
This hilarious Victorian novel is all about suburban life — and while the exact location is fictional, it’s clearly based on the kind of rapidly growing commuter towns you’d find on the Hertfordshire–London border. If you’ve ever felt personally victimised by a petty neighbour or stressed over a dinner party, you’ll definitely relate to Mr Pooter.
George Orwell in Wallington
George Orwell moved into a small property in Wallington in 2 April 1936, and it was there that he wrote The Road To Wigan Pier. He left later that year, to join the fighting in the Spanish Civil War.