Have you ever come across Persephone Books? It’s a small publisher that brought out its first title in 1999, and it was founded by Nicola Beauman. The aim of the company was to print books by women writers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries (although they have also brought out a few books by men). Almost all the books have a grey dustjacket and rather fabulous endpapers featuring designs of the era, along with a matching bookmark. The company was named for the Greek Goddess of the Spring. Nicola Beauman had received a small inheritance and decided to use it to reverse the neglect of female writers within literary culture. Virago Press, committed to reprinting lost classics, had published her first novel, and she used that as a model.
The business began with mail-order, but the huge success of the title Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson, printed in 2000, allowed Persephone to open a London shop. That shop is now in Bath. Some of the authors whose works they have published are Enid Bagnold, Joanna Cannan, Richmal Crimpton, Monica Dickens, Cecily Hamilton, Winifred Holtby, Marghanita Laski, Katherine Mansfield, Maud Pember Reeves, D.E. Stevenson, Noel Streatfield, Sylvia Townsend Warner and Dorothy Whipple, but there are many more. It is not just novels that Persephone has published, but also short stories, diaries, memoirs and poetry. Persephone also produces a lovely range of merchandise – tea towels, notebooks, posters etc, featuring the writers whose books they have reprinted.
Independent book publishers need all the support they can get, and I loved visiting the shop when it was in Lambs Conduit Street in London. I am looking forward to popping in to Edgar’s Buildings next time I am in Bath to find some enticing titles in this lovely range of books.
Have you visited Persephone Books? Do you know another great independent bookseller? Let me know by leaving a comment.
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Sabine
I haven’t visited their shop but have read a bunch of their publications and love what they do. Miss Pettigrew is a favourite and I love Dorothy Whipple’s writing. Another independent one you might like is Dean Street Press who publishes books which would be otherwise very hard to get. I love their Moray Dalton mysteries and all the fantastic titles in their Furrowed Middlebrow Series which includes titles by D.E. Stevenson, Margery Sharp, Molly Clavering, Susan Scarlett, Elizabeth Fair, Dorothy Lambert and more.
Susannah Fullerton
I have never read Dorothy Whipple, so must get to know her books. I so love DE Stevenson, especially Miss Buncle’s Book which I adored. Thanks for the suggestion about Dean Street Press – I’ll look them up.
Karen
I adore Persephone books and I have amassed a good collection. I haven’t read a bad one yet. My favourite author has to be Dorothy Whipple, however if you are wanting some gothic horror, then the quite slim book The Victorian Chaise Lounge could be the one for you.
Susannah Fullerton
Obviously I REALLY need to try Dorothy Whipple!Thanks for the Gothic suggestion too.