I have to come clean first and say that I not only haven't read this book, I haven't even seen it. And I'm not likely to possess it anywhere in the near future. So what business do I have writing about it?
The Roxburghe Club: A Bicentenary History by Nicolas Barker is a severely limited edition (300 copies of which only 200 are for sale at 95 pounds, bespoke London antiquarian book dealers) and is not likely to come my — or even your — way easily. But it is also quite easily the most important publication this year in the field of book arts. And that's my reason for noting it first in this round-up, and not merely in passing. Nicolas Barker, the highly respected and admired editor of 'The Book Collector', was commissioned by the Roxburghe Club, the oldest and most prestigious bibliophile society in the world, to write up this anniversary history of the club's doings over the years, especially their uniquely styled book bindings.
"The format," says the club in announcing the book, "is 8vo., original Roxburghe style red boards, spine lettered in gilt, purple endpapers; 347 pages; full-colour portrait frontispiece, 6 full-colour plates, 24 pages of black and white members' portraits." Barker had previously authored a bibliography of The Publications of the Roxburghe Club and became first choice to author the present book. The club's website has a longer note on the book. "Founded at a dinner to mark the sale of the incomparable library of the 3rd Duke of Roxburghe, the Club that bears his name is the oldest, and the pre-eminent, society of bibliophiles in the world.
The Club's first secretary was the Rev. Thomas Frognall Dibdin, famous for his chronicling of Bibliomania…This comprehensive study of the Club's history shows the continuing development of book collecting through changing tastes, advancing scholarship and extravagance and scandal, and brings to life the contributions of the membership, from scholars like M R James to villains such as Thomas J Wise. This story is an important part of the history of book collecting, told by an expert in the field and as Lord Egremont, today's President, comments, "This history should interest all of those who, in the words of the famous Roxburghe toast, continue to cherish 'the cause of bibliomania over the world'.
The next in this round-up of 2012 books about books is not only accessible and affordable, but also a very far cry from my first entry: Books to Die For: The World's Greatest Mystery Writers on the World's Greatest Mystery Novels. You don't have to be a crime fiction aficionado to check out this book — there's something here for the novice and the initiate. From contemporary writers on the old mystery masters to modern crime masters on contemporary mystery masters. The essays (by 119 authors from 20 countries) are deftly short and reveal as much about the essayist as her subject. Kathy Reichs on The Silence of the Lambs, Ian Rankin on I was Dora Suarez, Michael Connelly on The Little Sister, Mark Billingham on The Maltese Falcon and on and on to a wide canvas of the best, most iconic practitioners of crime, mystery and detective fiction.
(Except that one misplaced entry: Nancy Drew. What is she doing among this lot?!).
In their introduction, editors John Connolly and Declan Burke, write, "Why does the mystery novel enjoy such enduring appeal? There is no simple answer. It has a distinctive capacity for subtle social commentary, a concern with the disparity between law and justice, and a passion for order, however compromised. Even in the vision of the darkest of mystery writers, it provides us with a glimpse of the world as it might be, a world in which good men and women do not stand idly by and allow the worst aspects of human nature to triumph without opposition. It can touch upon all these facets while still entertaining the reader."
My Ideal Bookshelf is bewitching for the painted illustrations of bookshelves that accompany its text. But whose bookshelves are these? Ah, that's the second delectable thing about this elegant coffee table books on books edited by Thessaly La Force and illustrated by Jane Mount — these are the bookshelves of leading cultural figures, from writers to musicians to chefs to designers. These 100 pop culture figures talk of the books on their bookshelf and the different ways they were influenced by a particular book or a writer. Alongside their commentary is artist Jane Mount's bookshelf illustrations. (The Chicago Tribune blurbed that the book "makes a solid mainstream case for bookshelf porn").
And finally, there is The Little Bookstore of Big Stone Gap: A Memoir of Friendship, Community and the Uncommon Pleasure of a Good Book. A true story about a couple who began a bookshop in a small town, defying and challenging the trend of independent storefront bookstores closing down. In the process, they gathered a community around them, people who cared enough to want to make the bookshop not just a success, but a deep and lively presence in their community life. Wendy Welch's memoir is inspiring, not in the least sentimental and full of perceptive information and insight on how to run a good bookshop. Joining Wendy in this journey are her husband, two cats and two dogs.
And four noteworthy titles I can mention only in passing (either because I've written about them before or they are too new) are: Phantoms on the Bookshelf, The Fantastic Flying Book of Morris Lessmore (this one disappointed me, both the movie and the book version, but it's that rare bibliophilic title to turn bestseller), Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore and (this one published only just) My Bookstore: Writers Celebrate Their Favourite Places to Browse, Read and Shop.
The Roxburghe Club: A Bicentenary History by Nicolas Barker is a severely limited edition (300 copies of which only 200 are for sale at 95 pounds, bespoke London antiquarian book dealers) and is not likely to come my — or even your — way easily. But it is also quite easily the most important publication this year in the field of book arts. And that's my reason for noting it first in this round-up, and not merely in passing. Nicolas Barker, the highly respected and admired editor of 'The Book Collector', was commissioned by the Roxburghe Club, the oldest and most prestigious bibliophile society in the world, to write up this anniversary history of the club's doings over the years, especially their uniquely styled book bindings.
"The format," says the club in announcing the book, "is 8vo., original Roxburghe style red boards, spine lettered in gilt, purple endpapers; 347 pages; full-colour portrait frontispiece, 6 full-colour plates, 24 pages of black and white members' portraits." Barker had previously authored a bibliography of The Publications of the Roxburghe Club and became first choice to author the present book. The club's website has a longer note on the book. "Founded at a dinner to mark the sale of the incomparable library of the 3rd Duke of Roxburghe, the Club that bears his name is the oldest, and the pre-eminent, society of bibliophiles in the world.
The Club's first secretary was the Rev. Thomas Frognall Dibdin, famous for his chronicling of Bibliomania…This comprehensive study of the Club's history shows the continuing development of book collecting through changing tastes, advancing scholarship and extravagance and scandal, and brings to life the contributions of the membership, from scholars like M R James to villains such as Thomas J Wise. This story is an important part of the history of book collecting, told by an expert in the field and as Lord Egremont, today's President, comments, "This history should interest all of those who, in the words of the famous Roxburghe toast, continue to cherish 'the cause of bibliomania over the world'.
The next in this round-up of 2012 books about books is not only accessible and affordable, but also a very far cry from my first entry: Books to Die For: The World's Greatest Mystery Writers on the World's Greatest Mystery Novels. You don't have to be a crime fiction aficionado to check out this book — there's something here for the novice and the initiate. From contemporary writers on the old mystery masters to modern crime masters on contemporary mystery masters. The essays (by 119 authors from 20 countries) are deftly short and reveal as much about the essayist as her subject. Kathy Reichs on The Silence of the Lambs, Ian Rankin on I was Dora Suarez, Michael Connelly on The Little Sister, Mark Billingham on The Maltese Falcon and on and on to a wide canvas of the best, most iconic practitioners of crime, mystery and detective fiction.
(Except that one misplaced entry: Nancy Drew. What is she doing among this lot?!).
In their introduction, editors John Connolly and Declan Burke, write, "Why does the mystery novel enjoy such enduring appeal? There is no simple answer. It has a distinctive capacity for subtle social commentary, a concern with the disparity between law and justice, and a passion for order, however compromised. Even in the vision of the darkest of mystery writers, it provides us with a glimpse of the world as it might be, a world in which good men and women do not stand idly by and allow the worst aspects of human nature to triumph without opposition. It can touch upon all these facets while still entertaining the reader."
My Ideal Bookshelf is bewitching for the painted illustrations of bookshelves that accompany its text. But whose bookshelves are these? Ah, that's the second delectable thing about this elegant coffee table books on books edited by Thessaly La Force and illustrated by Jane Mount — these are the bookshelves of leading cultural figures, from writers to musicians to chefs to designers. These 100 pop culture figures talk of the books on their bookshelf and the different ways they were influenced by a particular book or a writer. Alongside their commentary is artist Jane Mount's bookshelf illustrations. (The Chicago Tribune blurbed that the book "makes a solid mainstream case for bookshelf porn").
And finally, there is The Little Bookstore of Big Stone Gap: A Memoir of Friendship, Community and the Uncommon Pleasure of a Good Book. A true story about a couple who began a bookshop in a small town, defying and challenging the trend of independent storefront bookstores closing down. In the process, they gathered a community around them, people who cared enough to want to make the bookshop not just a success, but a deep and lively presence in their community life. Wendy Welch's memoir is inspiring, not in the least sentimental and full of perceptive information and insight on how to run a good bookshop. Joining Wendy in this journey are her husband, two cats and two dogs.
And four noteworthy titles I can mention only in passing (either because I've written about them before or they are too new) are: Phantoms on the Bookshelf, The Fantastic Flying Book of Morris Lessmore (this one disappointed me, both the movie and the book version, but it's that rare bibliophilic title to turn bestseller), Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore and (this one published only just) My Bookstore: Writers Celebrate Their Favourite Places to Browse, Read and Shop.