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Johny Pitts explores Birmingham's literary heritage and contemporary writing scene, beginning with Natalie Marlow and Kate Mascarenhas who show him some of the evocative locations beneath the city's layers of history which inspired their new interwar-set novels.

Ash Bayliss takes him on a tour of Middle-earth, also known as Sarehole Mill in Hall Green, the childhood home of JRR Tolkien which inspired The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.

Possibly its most highly-regarded and well-known authors working today, Kit de Waal reflects on what it means to be a writer from Birmingham - or more specifically one from Moseley.

And finishing the journey in Digbeth, home of new independent bookshop Voce and publisher Floodgate. Editors Garrie Fletcher, Peter Haynes and Nigel Proctor explain how this ever-evolving, post-industrial part of town is such a rich source of inspiration for a new short collection.

Producer: Ciaran Bermingham

Book List
Needless Alley by Natalie Marlow
Hokey Pokey by Kate Mascarenhas
The Rotters’ Club by Jonathan Coe
Changing Places by David Lodge
Party Going by Henry Green
Living by Henry Green
Loving by Henry Green
My Name is Leon by Kit de Waal
Without Warning and Only Sometimes: Scenes from an Unpredictable Childhood by Kit de Waal
Digbeth Stories, edited by Garrie Fletcher, Peter Haynes and Nigel Proctor