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An Accidental Bookseller: A Personal Memoir of Foyles
A very personal memoir of the author's relationship with the iconic and much loved bookshop Foyles of Charing Cross Road in London. From fond childhood memories of his eccentric and brilliant grandfather William Foyle, 'the Barnum of Bookselling' and his aunt, the beautiful, charming, witty, self centred and at times utterly ruthless Christina Foyle, to the 21st century rejuvenation of a dying family business, An Accidental Bookseller will appeal to all who have their own memories of Foyles.
157 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 28, 2020
27 people are currently reading
246 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 16, 2020
During my life I've spent many a happy hour in Foyles Bookshop in Charing Cross Road. I bought James Bond novels there as a teenager in the 1970s. I sadly saw the place fall apart as I got older. Then I saw it return to life again & I took my teenage daughter there to discover books for herself.
Bill Samuel (grandson of William Foyle) tells some charming stories of life at Foyles, including how Christina Foyle would interview for staff. She looked one young man up & down as he entered the room then simply said "No, I don't think so."
When Samuel helped to run the family bookshop he encountered many strange situations. At one point the shop's general manager was found guilty of fraud then took Foyles (unsuccessfully) to the employment tribunal for unfair dismissal.
This is wonderful little read about a bookshop I've always loved visiting. Bill Samuel's book certainly kept me entertained & I'll be thinking about it when I go to London in two weeks time & once again visit Foyles. When I enter the shop I'll look up at the sign that always makes me smile....
Welcome book lover, you are among friends.
Bill Samuel (grandson of William Foyle) tells some charming stories of life at Foyles, including how Christina Foyle would interview for staff. She looked one young man up & down as he entered the room then simply said "No, I don't think so."
When Samuel helped to run the family bookshop he encountered many strange situations. At one point the shop's general manager was found guilty of fraud then took Foyles (unsuccessfully) to the employment tribunal for unfair dismissal.
This is wonderful little read about a bookshop I've always loved visiting. Bill Samuel's book certainly kept me entertained & I'll be thinking about it when I go to London in two weeks time & once again visit Foyles. When I enter the shop I'll look up at the sign that always makes me smile....
Welcome book lover, you are among friends.
March 26, 2024
I wanted to like this one a lot more than I did. I was hoping for something that was devoted to books and a culture and lifestyle surrounded by them. This memoir meanders through random anecdotes about people in the Foyle family for its first half (though I have to admit that the author's own adult life is pretty interesting--he should consider writing more about that!). In the second half, we finally get more about this legendary store itself, and some insight into the world of bookselling. Still, despite many interesting accounts that pop up, passages about books and authors themselves are relatively few. A mixed bag, this one.
February 7, 2021
Foyles became a very first book shop I visited during my first trip to London. I was shocked and impressed by this gorgeous cosy place in the heart of West End, with an impressive selection of books, literary souvenirs, quite zones for browsing and truly unique atmosphere. Since that time I never missed an opportunity to visit it when in London.
Unfortunately, this book turned out to be a major disappointment. I expected to enjoy the timeline of Foyles, I wanted to see photos of how the first version of the book shop looked liked etc. I expected Foyles to be the protagonist of the book, it appeared Foyles was only a background in the story of family who owned it😩
Unfortunately, this book turned out to be a major disappointment. I expected to enjoy the timeline of Foyles, I wanted to see photos of how the first version of the book shop looked liked etc. I expected Foyles to be the protagonist of the book, it appeared Foyles was only a background in the story of family who owned it😩
June 22, 2021
Погоджуся з дописувачами, які писали, що це така трохи суха сповідь про книжковий магазин в житті родини Foyles. Бували цікаві моменти, але більшість займали спогади автора, який є онуком засновника, про своє досить насичене життя і те, що він зробив для магазина. В анотації обіцяють багато веселих історій. Нажаль, в більшості вони мені такими не здавалися. Є інформація про нові форми роботи, залучення аудиторії, поглинання інших фірм. Але назвати це бізнес посібником також не можна.
Якщо підсумувати, читати можна, але чи потрібно?
Якщо підсумувати, читати можна, але чи потрібно?
April 28, 2020
A wonderful memoir centered around an amazing bookstore; which has become a destination that is now on my bucket list of places to see before I die! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A 5-star delight of a book about books!!!
March 9, 2023
If you are looking for stories about Foyles, hang on tight, there are plenty here. The author states up front that this is not a history of Foyles, but a very personal memoir of his relationship with it and with his family. So while the first part of this short book is lightly sprinkled with bits about Foyles, and more about his life before he got involved in the book business, the second half is all to do with it, and well worth it.
The author’s grandfather, William Foyle, started the store (or “The Shop” as the family called it). He was a man who loved books and people, and loved getting the two together. He wanted his stores to welcome everyone and he loved his employees and treated them well. He gave Foyles its reputation.
When he let go of the reins, he passed them down to one of his daughters, Christina, and everything changed. She disliked most people, especially children, and didn’t trust or get to know her employees. She didn’t like change or keeping up with things, and its amazing the store lasted. She wouldn’t let her employees show any initiative, which is proven by one incident after she died. Going thru a dusty pile of books on a table in the store, a sign was found under them that pointed to “The Record Shop”. At that point, there hadn’t been a record shop in Foyles for decades. There was also much theft during Christina’s time, partly because she didn’t trust her employees to handle sales. So customers had to wait in several cues to be able to purchase a book, and some just didn’t want to bother. Employees were told to tear up any invoices that came thru the post, because there were also copies in the boxes of books that came in, and Christina didn’t want them to be paid twice by accident. This caused many to go unpaid and publishers to refuse to send more books until they received payment.
After Christina died, the shop went to the third generation, including the author. They could have sold off and been done with it, but they loved the business. But, needless to say, they had a long road ahead of them to restore the reputation the store had in William’s days and make Foyles what it once was in the public’s eyes. Even the employees mistrusted the changes being implemented, until they were made to feel a part of things again. Among many positive changes, one was giving to charities every year, which the employees helped to choose.
My favorite two chapters are “Taking Stock” and “Personal Memories”. The first involved actually figuring out what the store had, what to let go of, what to bring in to make it shine again, after it was out of Christina’s hands. Inventory was difficult to get a handle on, due to her dislike for modern things, and the store only had one computer at this time. Besides books, the store was in need of physical remodeling. Plenty of time, money and work was involved.
The personal memories are wonderful. These are the stories you’d love to sit down and listen to for hours. Everything from Nelson Mandela visiting the store and being left to browse for hours without being bothered, to Michael Jackson picking out $1200 worth of books, asking to have them delivered to his hotel, which would pay….except it didn’t. Billie Holiday came to the store when she wrote a book, people who had stolen in the past sent in money and apologies. A 90-year-old, nearly blind, secretary was found to be working in one of the top floors. She was allowed to stay because her job was her life, but when she died, her office was discovered to be stuffed with unsent checks meant to pay bills, and uncashed checks that had come in, among other things. The stories here will make you laugh and shake your head and want to hear more.
Unfortunately the store was moved to a newer building and area, and eventually sold, after much deliberation, to Waterstones, the largest specialist bookselling chain in the UK. That had to be hard, but it would still continue in that way.
I’ve been to the newer building Foyles had moved to, which I loved, but regret never being able to see the original and what it was like back then. Must have been something very special.
The author’s grandfather, William Foyle, started the store (or “The Shop” as the family called it). He was a man who loved books and people, and loved getting the two together. He wanted his stores to welcome everyone and he loved his employees and treated them well. He gave Foyles its reputation.
When he let go of the reins, he passed them down to one of his daughters, Christina, and everything changed. She disliked most people, especially children, and didn’t trust or get to know her employees. She didn’t like change or keeping up with things, and its amazing the store lasted. She wouldn’t let her employees show any initiative, which is proven by one incident after she died. Going thru a dusty pile of books on a table in the store, a sign was found under them that pointed to “The Record Shop”. At that point, there hadn’t been a record shop in Foyles for decades. There was also much theft during Christina’s time, partly because she didn’t trust her employees to handle sales. So customers had to wait in several cues to be able to purchase a book, and some just didn’t want to bother. Employees were told to tear up any invoices that came thru the post, because there were also copies in the boxes of books that came in, and Christina didn’t want them to be paid twice by accident. This caused many to go unpaid and publishers to refuse to send more books until they received payment.
After Christina died, the shop went to the third generation, including the author. They could have sold off and been done with it, but they loved the business. But, needless to say, they had a long road ahead of them to restore the reputation the store had in William’s days and make Foyles what it once was in the public’s eyes. Even the employees mistrusted the changes being implemented, until they were made to feel a part of things again. Among many positive changes, one was giving to charities every year, which the employees helped to choose.
My favorite two chapters are “Taking Stock” and “Personal Memories”. The first involved actually figuring out what the store had, what to let go of, what to bring in to make it shine again, after it was out of Christina’s hands. Inventory was difficult to get a handle on, due to her dislike for modern things, and the store only had one computer at this time. Besides books, the store was in need of physical remodeling. Plenty of time, money and work was involved.
The personal memories are wonderful. These are the stories you’d love to sit down and listen to for hours. Everything from Nelson Mandela visiting the store and being left to browse for hours without being bothered, to Michael Jackson picking out $1200 worth of books, asking to have them delivered to his hotel, which would pay….except it didn’t. Billie Holiday came to the store when she wrote a book, people who had stolen in the past sent in money and apologies. A 90-year-old, nearly blind, secretary was found to be working in one of the top floors. She was allowed to stay because her job was her life, but when she died, her office was discovered to be stuffed with unsent checks meant to pay bills, and uncashed checks that had come in, among other things. The stories here will make you laugh and shake your head and want to hear more.
Unfortunately the store was moved to a newer building and area, and eventually sold, after much deliberation, to Waterstones, the largest specialist bookselling chain in the UK. That had to be hard, but it would still continue in that way.
I’ve been to the newer building Foyles had moved to, which I loved, but regret never being able to see the original and what it was like back then. Must have been something very special.
November 24, 2019
This is a very interesting short memoir written by a member of the Foyle family. It contains some amusing anecdotes about Foyles and the book trade in general. Being a bookseller in my early working life, I found this a joy to read. Long may Foyles continue.
December 2, 2020
Всё, что вам нужно знать об этой книге:
- ни одной иллюстрации внутри, НИ ОДНОЙ!
- её написал 78-летний бухгалтер, и это заметно.
А если поподробнее, то можно сказать, что название книги не обманывает: в бизнес книготорговли автор действительно забрёл как-то нехотя и между делом. Несмотря на уверения в страстной любви к книгам, в тексте этого совсем не чувствуется, и с тем же успехом Сэмюэль мог бы продавать велосипеды. Рассказ склоняется в сторону фуршетов с другими богатыми людьми и разных премий, вместо того чтобы, например, упомянуть (хоть раз!), что хорошо продавалось, а что нет, какой был контингент у магазина и т.д. В одной из поздних глав автор пытается набросать кучу "воспоминаний", но, как я уже намекнула, таланта, чтобы описать их живо и с юмором, ему критически не хватает.
В целом от книги очень неприятное послевкусие, ибо я хотела с восторгом узнать историю одного из самых известных книжных Лондона, а получила волшебника страны Оз за дырявой шторкой (нет, правда, как при такой ужасной организации магазин просто не обанкротился?).
Лучше прочитайте (или перечитайте) "Дневник книготорговца" Шона Байтелла. Эту книгу написал человек с шикарным чувством юмора, который действительно любит и продаёт книги. Чёрно-белые фото магазина и кота Капитана прилагаются!
- ни одной иллюстрации внутри, НИ ОДНОЙ!
- её написал 78-летний бухгалтер, и это заметно.
А если поподробнее, то можно сказать, что название книги не обманывает: в бизнес книготорговли автор действительно забрёл как-то нехотя и между делом. Несмотря на уверения в страстной любви к книгам, в тексте этого совсем не чувствуется, и с тем же успехом Сэмюэль мог бы продавать велосипеды. Рассказ склоняется в сторону фуршетов с другими богатыми людьми и разных премий, вместо того чтобы, например, упомянуть (хоть раз!), что хорошо продавалось, а что нет, какой был контингент у магазина и т.д. В одной из поздних глав автор пытается набросать кучу "воспоминаний", но, как я уже намекнула, таланта, чтобы описать их живо и с юмором, ему критически не хватает.
В целом от книги очень неприятное послевкусие, ибо я хотела с восторгом узнать историю одного из самых известных книжных Лондона, а получила волшебника страны Оз за дырявой шторкой (нет, правда, как при такой ужасной организации магазин просто не обанкротился?).
Лучше прочитайте (или перечитайте) "Дневник книготорговца" Шона Байтелла. Эту книгу написал человек с шикарным чувством юмора, который действительно любит и продаёт книги. Чёрно-белые фото магазина и кота Капитана прилагаются!
February 5, 2022
This is a gentle and enjoyable memoir of a member of the family that established and ran (until recently) the famous Foyles bookshop business. Its flagship store in Charing Cross Road was an amazing place which I first visited as a teenager in 1972. It was idiosyncratically organised but had a tremendous range of books, and I loved visiting it in those years.
Bill Samuel runs through the history of the business, from his charismatic grandfather to his rather difficult aunt, Christina, who, from this account, almost ran the business into extinction. It is saved after her death by Bill and others who have made it now an excellent, thriving bookshop, with good outlets elsewhere.
It is a good story which is really only sketched in this account. It is a bit of a flat read; a memoir of the "then-I-did-this-and-then-I-did-that" variety. It would be good at some stage to have a more thorough account of the business and its good and bad points. Nonetheless, this is an entertaining account which would appeal to lovers of books and others who appreciate a human story.
Bill Samuel runs through the history of the business, from his charismatic grandfather to his rather difficult aunt, Christina, who, from this account, almost ran the business into extinction. It is saved after her death by Bill and others who have made it now an excellent, thriving bookshop, with good outlets elsewhere.
It is a good story which is really only sketched in this account. It is a bit of a flat read; a memoir of the "then-I-did-this-and-then-I-did-that" variety. It would be good at some stage to have a more thorough account of the business and its good and bad points. Nonetheless, this is an entertaining account which would appeal to lovers of books and others who appreciate a human story.
May 15, 2021
Il classico saggio preso in mano per caso dopo aver letto, sempre per caso, un articolo di giornale che parlava della libreria in questione. Purtroppo non ho mai avuto l'occasione di andare a vedere come fosse la vecchia Foyles, durante la prima visita era gia' stata rinnovata, e adesso, oltre a essersi spostata, non ha niente di diverso da una qualsiasi libreria di catena. La storia di questo posto e' comunque affascinante, e riflette anche uno spaccato del mercato librario nell'ultimo secolo (e il crollo vertiginoso del recentissimo presente causa famoso monopolista). La libreria Strand di Nuova York forse e' o era un posto simile (ci ero stato), non saprei se in Italia ci siano state librerie particolari.
December 12, 2023
No other word but ‘delightful’ seems appropriate for this short recollection spanning three generations of owners of a wonderful bookstore in central London. The book has glimpses into the family, jokes and hackles from an unprofessional writer and unprofessional bookseller - very frank and open at times, covert and diplomatic at others. It sparked joy in me in many ways, as a person who spent hours roaming the bookstores in London. Some things rather surprised me and I welcomed personal out of topic stories from Bill’s life as well. I stumbled upon the book at a Christmas sale in Bangkok’s Kinokuniya which added a layer of the franchises in booksellers’ world to the read and a satisfactory sympathy of moving around the globe for work. A happy find!
May 30, 2024
I'm new to goodreads and not sure of the ettiquette - am I allowed to review my own books? The reviews of my memoir of my lifelong relationship with my family's bookshop Foyles, both here and on Amazon, have been kind so I don't think mine will be misleading.
I greatly enjoyed the writing of it; writing memoir has a way of bringing back memories long buried in the subconscious, and each memory brings with it a string of others. I fell in love with the chaotic wonderland of Foyles when I first visited as a small child in the 1940s. It was easy to see why it built up such a loyal following all over the world. I have been warmed by the feedback I have had, memories from others of its excellence, idiosyncracies and frustrations, mostly recalled with affection.
I greatly enjoyed the writing of it; writing memoir has a way of bringing back memories long buried in the subconscious, and each memory brings with it a string of others. I fell in love with the chaotic wonderland of Foyles when I first visited as a small child in the 1940s. It was easy to see why it built up such a loyal following all over the world. I have been warmed by the feedback I have had, memories from others of its excellence, idiosyncracies and frustrations, mostly recalled with affection.
July 26, 2023
Buku yang menceritakan jatuh bangun perniagaan keluarga berusia lebih 100 tahun yang diasaskan oleh William Foyle pada tahun 1900-an.
Foyles yang terletak di jantung perdagangan buku UK di Charing Cross Road pernah menjadi kedai buku paling terkenal di London, dikunjungi oleh keluarga diraja, Nelson Mandela dan Michael Jackson, antaranya.
Bab yang paling mengujakan adalah tentang William dan pembangunan semula Foyles selepas jualannya merosot di bawah Christina Foyle.
Cara Bill Samuel mengubat hati selepas Foyles berpindah tangan kelihatan begitu rasional dan matang.
Patutkah seseorang ditakrifkan oleh sesuatu yang pernah menjadi sebahagian daripada dirinya?
Foyles yang terletak di jantung perdagangan buku UK di Charing Cross Road pernah menjadi kedai buku paling terkenal di London, dikunjungi oleh keluarga diraja, Nelson Mandela dan Michael Jackson, antaranya.
Bab yang paling mengujakan adalah tentang William dan pembangunan semula Foyles selepas jualannya merosot di bawah Christina Foyle.
Cara Bill Samuel mengubat hati selepas Foyles berpindah tangan kelihatan begitu rasional dan matang.
Patutkah seseorang ditakrifkan oleh sesuatu yang pernah menjadi sebahagian daripada dirinya?
March 5, 2020
Bill Samuel's book, though written as a personnel memoir, captures many moments from London's historic past and the arc of the publishing industry in general. HIs memoir is touching and generous, whilst at the same time capturing the nuances of working within a family business. It's a great read.
November 12, 2023
Цікаво послухати чиюсь історію життя, під призмою історії про книжковий магазин. Аж захотілося створити свій книжковий магазин, проводити виставки, створити джаз-клуб, і робити всі прекрасні речі які вдалися автору) хороше чтиво.
May 5, 2021
If you LOVE books and bookstores you will love this book!
May 20, 2021
душевно написанная книга.
August 31, 2021
This was an enjoyable little read about a great bookstore. Some more pics would have been nice.
September 5, 2021
A very British story. With a lot of absolutely British stories insaide, written by a professional accountant.
March 23, 2022
A rambling memoir that doesn't focus exclusively on the author's family's business, a world-famous bookstore. I would have preferred more about books but the story is enjoyable now nonetheless.
May 6, 2022
A Personal memoir of Foyles by Bill Samuel
Bill Samuels is the Grandson of the founder of Foyles and he tells the history of Foyles from the early days to present day.
Its quite fascinating really as Foyles in its day was the biggest bookshop around and it had lots of prestige but was run aground by the owners daughter when she inherited the bulk of the shop to run when her father died and it was left to the grandchildren to make it in to the bookshop it is today when it was sold off to Waterstones…
Little fact about Foyles: the first Waterstones was set up in a property owned by the Foyles family and for the first couple of months, Foyles paid the utility bills for them… and now full circle Foyles bookshop is now in the Waterstones family.
#Nonfiction #London #Bookshop #Iconic
Bill Samuels is the Grandson of the founder of Foyles and he tells the history of Foyles from the early days to present day.
Its quite fascinating really as Foyles in its day was the biggest bookshop around and it had lots of prestige but was run aground by the owners daughter when she inherited the bulk of the shop to run when her father died and it was left to the grandchildren to make it in to the bookshop it is today when it was sold off to Waterstones…
Little fact about Foyles: the first Waterstones was set up in a property owned by the Foyles family and for the first couple of months, Foyles paid the utility bills for them… and now full circle Foyles bookshop is now in the Waterstones family.
#Nonfiction #London #Bookshop #Iconic
November 15, 2021
История, которая могла быть намного длиннее и интересней, если бы автор перестал повторять "Это история для другой книги" и "Во всем виновата Кристина". Бедная женщина в гробу перевернулась пару тысяч раз, читатели получили разочаровывающие и невнятные мемуары менеджера в книжном магазине, а благотворительным организациям досталось меньше прибыли с продаж, чем могло бы.
July 20, 2025
The bookseller-themed memoir, An Accidental Bookseller, is by Bill Samuel, a member of the Foyle family, who ran their London bookshop for years and managed to turn it from a dying business to a prospering one. An Accidental Bookseller is a fascinating read, especially if you like bookshops and/or want to know more about the inner workings of running a business focused on books.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews