Lovely Bristol bookshop - Bloom & Curll

22 Jan • ∞
22 Jan • ∞
22 Jan • ∞
22 Jan • ∞

Shakespeare & Company Bookshop in Paris - one of my favourite places in the world.

22 Jan • ∞

Judy’s Affordable Vintage Fair is amazing, spent a lovely Saturday with friends checking out the fair at College Green in Bristol :)

20 Nov • ∞
Love these Penguin Books! Another one found in Bristol at St Nicholas Market. Ariel is one of ten books first published by Penguin when they began in 1935.

Love these Penguin Books! Another one found in Bristol at St Nicholas Market.

Ariel is one of ten books first published by Penguin when they began in 1935.

20 Nov • ∞
"There is a drop of ink in the blood of the most natural of us; we are all hybrids, crossed with literature, and Shakespeare is as much the author of our being as either of our parents."

- Israel Zangwill, ‘Without Prejudice’ (1896). Quote found in ‘Looking Glasses and Neverlands’ - Karen Coats.

9 Nov • ∞

Beautiful books I found on the souvenir bridges in Paris!

3 Nov • ∞
I love Penguin

I love Penguin

30 Oct • ∞
Found this Penguin copy of Lady Chatterley’s Lover at Amnesty Books where I volunteer. It is an iconic cover to a book that sparked a lot of controversy. In 1960, to mark the 30th anniversary of D.H. Lawrence’s death, Penguin Books decided to publish seven of D.H. Lawrence’s titles. Included in this list was the unexpurgated edition of Lady Chatterley’s Lover. For having published this book Penguin Books was prosecuted under the new Obscene Publications Act of 1959. Penguin Books was represented at the six-day trial at the Old Bailey by Michael Rubinstein, “the book trade’s lawyer”. On the 2 November 1960, the jury passed a “Not Guilty” verdict. I have not got round to reading it yet, but I will be intrigued to see if it is remotely obscene!

Found this Penguin copy of Lady Chatterley’s Lover at Amnesty Books where I volunteer. It is an iconic cover to a book that sparked a lot of controversy. In 1960, to mark the 30th anniversary of D.H. Lawrence’s death, Penguin Books decided to publish seven of D.H. Lawrence’s titles. Included in this list was the unexpurgated edition of Lady Chatterley’s Lover. For having published this book Penguin Books was prosecuted under the new Obscene Publications Act of 1959. Penguin Books was represented at the six-day trial at the Old Bailey by Michael Rubinstein, “the book trade’s lawyer”. On the 2 November 1960, the jury passed a “Not Guilty” verdict. I have not got round to reading it yet, but I will be intrigued to see if it is remotely obscene!

29 Oct • ∞
Found this in my student  house, it is a really cool first edition by Penguin of Edward Lear’s book of nonsense poems and illustrations, published in 1939.

Found this in my student  house, it is a really cool first edition by Penguin of Edward Lear’s book of nonsense poems and illustrations, published in 1939.

29 Oct • ∞
"How can I tell what I think till I see what I say?"

- E. M. Forster, ‘Aspects of the Novel’ (1927)

24 Oct • ∞
24 Oct • ∞

At a difficult moment in life

Or when grief constricts the heart

There is a marvellous prayer

That I repeat by heart.

There’s a grace-bestowing power

In the consonance of living words

An incomprehensible,

Sacred charm breathes in them.

Doubt rolls away

Like a burden from the soul

And faith appears, and tears appear

And all is ease, such ease.

Poem recited in Russian by Professor Michael Basker in his lecture on ‘Death-defying Magic: languages, poetry and the search for sense’ 20/10/2011

I find this poem very moving. It sounded beautiful in Russian and the words in English really resonate with me. A perfect example of the power of poetry to soothe and heal. 

Unfortunately I can not trace this translation to match with any other recording of the poem. But for me this version of the poem is perfect and so I will leave it this way without a title or an author. The words speak for themselves.

20 Oct • ∞