In an era when bookshops such as Border’s and Waterstone’s, fill their windows with paperback “3 for 2” offers, the Heywood Hill Bookshop, at 10 Curzon Street in the heart of London, stands out as an exceptional independent bookshop. These two volumes of letters, edited by John Saumarez Smith, provide a fascinating glimpse into literary London over three decades through the perspective of a distinguished, if often dysfunctional, book-shop staff. 10 Curzon Street is now almost as famous as 84 Charing Cross Road was as a result of Helene Hanff’s books.
Category: 2007-03
2007-03
Biblionews -Index 2006Numbers 349-352
LeporelloIn his article “The Leporello and Lorne” in the December 2006 issue of Biblionews Michael Aitken says on p126 with respect to the origin of the word Leporello:“[…] Leporello sings his catalogue aria and takes from his bag a book from which he pulls a long folding paper strip—the list of Don Giovanni’s romantic conquests. … Continue reading Notes and Queries- Leporello, Margaret Woodhouse
Raymond John Howgego’s Encyclopedia of Exploration has, in the five years since publication of the first volume, established itself as a major, if not the major reference work, of exploration, travel and colonisation. Howgego notes, in the Introduction to this third volume, that he had originally intended to complete his work in one volume but the required “degree of thoroughness” meant that more volumes were required than originally anticipated.The first part covered the period to 1800 and the second 1800-1850. Both volumes are still available from the publisher, Hordern House (www.hordern.com). This third part 1850-1940 is subtitled The Oceans, Islands and Polar Regions, while a fourth part, scheduled for 2008, will be subtitled Continental Exploration and will deal with continental and land exploration from 1850-1940.