Discover the remarkable life of Eric Walrond, a major literary figure of the Harlem Renaissance whose extraordinary journey eventually brought him to the West of England.
This special Black History Month event at the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution explores the life and work of a writer whose story connects the Caribbean, Panama, New York, the Harlem Renaissance and later Britain.
Born in British Guiana and raised partly in Barbados and Panama, Walrond became one of the most distinctive Black literary voices of the early twentieth century. His experiences in the Caribbean and Central America shaped much of his writing, particularly his vivid depictions of migration, labour, race and identity.
After moving to New York, Walrond became closely associated with the Harlem Renaissance, the extraordinary flowering of Black art, literature, music and political thought that transformed African American cultural life during the 1920s.
His literary career placed him within the wider social and creative world of the period, which included figures such as Louis Armstrong and Josephine Baker.
Walrond’s life later took him across the Atlantic to Britain. He was present during the arrival of the Empire Windrush in 1948 and eventually lived and worked near Bath, where he continued his literary and intellectual life.
The event asks an intriguing question: what if one of the important figures of the Harlem Renaissance had once been your neighbour?
Presented by David Dawson, Director of Wiltshire Museum, the afternoon will explore Walrond’s extraordinary journey and the connections between his international life and the local history of Wiltshire and Somerset.
A selection of items connected with Walrond’s life and work will also be on display, giving visitors an opportunity to engage more closely with his story and legacy.
Guests will even be able to enjoy Panama Punch, reflecting another important chapter in Walrond’s remarkable life.
The event takes place on Saturday 3rd October 2026 from 2:30pm to 4:00pm and is available as a hybrid event, allowing audiences to take part both in person and online.
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