Shanghai Museum will host Writers Revealed: Treasures from British Collections and the National Portrait Gallery, London, on March 18, marking the first exhibition in the Chinese mainland by the National Portrait Gallery.

The exhibition brings together 82 major literary figures from 16th-century England to the present day. Through 135 rare items, including portraits, photographs, manuscripts, letters, and books, it invites visitors to rediscover centuries of literary classics through a fresh lens.

Literary journey across the centuries

English literature holds a unique place in world culture. In the 16th century, poetic forms from Italy and France found their way to England. Thomas Wyatt introduced the sonnet, and William Shakespeare mastered both the sonnet and blank verse, crafting plays and poems that gave life to unforgettable characters.

The 18th century saw the rise of the novel, with Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe standing as an early landmark in English fiction.

The 19th century ushered in the Romantic poets — George Gordon Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and John Keats, whose emotional power and imagination left a lasting mark. Meanwhile, Jane Austen pushed the novel to new heights with works such as Pride and Prejudice. Charles Dickens painted vivid portraits of London life, while Arthur Conan Doyle created Sherlock Holmes, a literary icon known around the world.

As the 20th century unfolded, women writers came to the fore. A rich tradition of female voices took shape with Virginia Woolf pioneering stream of consciousness in novels like Mrs Dalloway. In more recent decades, J.K. Rowling has created a magical universe that captivates readers around the globe, adding a new chapter to the ever-evolving story of English literature.

Bringing visitors closer to writers

The exhibition is organized into five sections, offering multiple perspectives on writers' lives, creative paths, and cultural influence. By displaying portraits alongside manuscripts and rare editions, it provides visitors with a more intimate encounter with the people behind the works.

Among the highlights are portraits of Shakespeare and Jane Austen, both considered the only surviving likenesses created during their lifetimes. The exhibition also showcases materials related to the Bronte sisters, Virginia Woolf, Agatha Christie, Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, E.M. Forster, Samuel Beckett, and J.K. Rowling, among many others.

Visitors are invited to see familiar writers in a new light. In a semi-abstract portrait of T.S. Eliot, an arched-back cat appears on the poet's shoulder. Shown alongside a first edition of Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, the portrait hints at a playful side to the author of The Waste Land. 

Another standout is the story of Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes. Manuscripts, illustrations, and related works demonstrate how the fictional detective became so iconic that he helped shape the author's own literary career.

If you go

When: March 18 to July 13

Where: Shanghai Museum East, No 1952 Century Avenue, Pudong New Area

Admission: Free

Source: WeChat account of Shanghai Museum at "SH-Museum"