Sadly, the number of secondhand bookshops has diminished since we were last in Salisbury. Also, one that we visited is struggling and is serious danger of going under. With that in mind, I shall give their internet business a little puff – www.ellwoodbooks.com. They provided me with Aubrey Beardsley: A Biography, which I hope to get around to reading before too long. Although I’ve enjoyed his illustrations for many years, I know very little about the man himself, apart from the fact that he died prematurely at the age of just 25. As a friend of both Oscar Wilde and Ada Leverson, I very much doubt that his life was dull.
I was remarkably restrained in the Oxfam Bookshop and purchased only Emile Zola by F W J Hemmings, despite having been sorely tempted by a bumper volume of Victorian society stories. I’ve read a considerable number of Zola’s novels, but have never explored any critical or biographical material. My initial browse through the book indicates it will be hugely enlightening, but it has rather drawn attention to my execrable French. I shall really have to start getting to grips with the language.
I did have a good old rummage in Waterstone’s as well, but decided I would check (in line with recent pledge) whether any of the titles I fancied were available in the local library. I felt sure they wouldn’t be, then I’d be justified in ordering them online when I got home. To my horror, they were ALL there. I now need to get used to the idea of reading a book and then giving it back. An extraordinary concept. On the other hand, I’m very pleased that some of my council tax is funding the purchase of Victorian novels and literary criticism.
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You’re a reformed woman! I have no will-power when it comes to books, though I fear I shall have to develop some in short order.
I’m pledged this year to buying a book a week from a bookstore (sigh, such hardship!!) because in these times of trouble I felt I should do my bit to keep the book industry going. My husband tells me I don’t have to support it singlehandedly, but you know, when needs must… I’ve figured out if I make myself a packed lunch on the two days I eat in college rather than buying M & S lunches, I save more than enough money. Is my sainthood in the post, do you think??
I shall demand your immediate canonisation, Litlove!
I know what you mean about needing to support bookstores, though. I shall be going down to part-time hours soon and really ought to reduce my book buying accordingly, but feel duty-bound to continue supporting Valancourt Books, as otherwise they won’t be able to keep producing their excellent editions of Victorian literary treasures.
That’s a very good idea about making packed lunches rather than buying them. Skipping my weekly trip to Pret would probably pay for a Trollope.