Tying together fact and fiction in maritime history. Based in Exeter’s historic Custom House and around its Heritage Harbour, Bowlines will explore major themes in maritime literature. These will include: Characters and Characterisation – Inputs both on real characters and creating imagined ones. Disaster – Wars, shipwrecks and the efforts to improve maritime safety. These will be approached via inputs both from respected maritime historians and well known writers of naval fiction. The event will have a variety of inputs, ranging from talks to lively panel discussions designed to explore emerging themes in maritime literature.