Britain’s Heathrow Airport hires writer-in-residence to probe the philosophy of flying
By APWednesday, August 19, 2009
UK airport hires writer to tell travelers’ tales
LONDON — An author best known for works of philosophy has become the first writer in residence at Heathrow Airport.
Alain de Botton is spending a week inside Heathrow’s Terminal 5. His books include “How Proust Can Change Your Life.”
De Botton was on the second day of his seven-day stint Wednesday. He spends his time observing and interviewing passengers and staff.
Terminal 5 opened last year in a blaze of negative publicity. Hundreds of flights were canceled and thousands of pieces of luggage lost after the terminal’s high-tech baggage-handling system broke down.
De Botton’s observations will be collected in a book set to be published next month. The first 10,000 copies will be given away free at Heathrow.
