All About Books discussion

If you would like to share one of your favourite poems during a week in July, please sign up below. Feel free to pick a specific week or just let me know that you would like to be part of The Monday Poem, in which case I'll select one for you.
The week schedule will be filled in as people sign up.

week 1 (Monday July 7th) - Alice
week 2 (Monday July 14th) - Ann
week 3 (Monday July 21st) - Gill
week 4 (Monday July 28th) - Everyman

This is a great idea. I would like to sign up for the second weak of July.

Gladly! Looking forward to seeing what you choose!

If a newbie here is allowed to jump in, I'll take week 4.

They are Everyman.
Glad you've joined us. Reading your name I keep thinking it may have (though rather unlikely) been inspired by a play by Hugo von Hofmannsthal ("Jedermann")? Is it?

Hey Everyman - hello! And welcome - it's lovely to see you here too :) Are you going to introduce yourself in the "Welcome" thread?

Jenny wrote: Reading your name I keep thinking it may have (though rather unlikely) been inspired by a play by Hugo von Hofmannsthal ("Jedermann")? Is it?"

No. I took it from the old, original "Everyman's Library" editions from Dent which offered affordable hardback pocket sized editions of almost every book I wanted to read. I used to get them second hand from a little bookshop in London which sadly no longer exists. They were my constant companions during my 20s and 30s, when my passion for reading vastly outstripped my income.

I loved their motto, printed in every volume:

"Everyman, I will go with thee
and be thy guide
in thy most need
to go by thy side."

Jean wrote: "Hey Everyman - hello! And welcome - it's lovely to see you here too :) Are you going to introduce yourself in the "Welcome" thread?"

I suppose I should, some day. If I can ever overcome my natural shyness.

LOL Everyman! I know that edition well. And probably the bookshop too - there used to be an "enclave" of little antiquarian bookshops in Cecil Court. http://www.cecilcourt.co.uk/
Some are still there, but most have sadly closed down now.

Jean wrote: "LOL Everyman! I know that edition well. And probably the bookshop too - there used to be an "enclave" of little antiquarian bookshops in Cecil Court. http://www.cecilcourt.co.uk/
Some are still the..."

Mine was called the Compton Bookshop. But it was so long ago that I've forgotten the names of the two men who ran it.

Everyman wrote: "Jean wrote: "LOL Everyman! I know that edition well. And probably the bookshop too - there used to be an "enclave" of little antiquarian bookshops in Cecil Court. http://www.cecilcourt.co.uk/
Some ..."


I did, however, find a few mentions of it. One was this:

When I lived in Islington in the late 1970s, my boyfriend (now long-time husband!) and I had no TV. Instead, we read a lot. There was a wonderful 2nd hand bookshop in Upper Street then, the Compton Bookshop, run by a very nice gay couple. We used to pop in on a Saturday morning and spend a couple of quid each on a pile of books (good clean paperbacks at 20p a throw then), and go back a month or so later for another lot.
http://www.judithjohnson.co.uk/blog/d...

And then I got the names back! These were the guys. This brings back such great memories of my many letters to and from these two.

Geoffrey Palmer died at the age of 92 on 22 January. He had been in hospital in Norwich for only three weeks at the end of a long and productive life. He will be remembered very affectionately by many booksellers and customers in London and East Anglia in connection with the Compton Bookshop and, later, Hermitage Books. Both businesses were run with Noel Lloyd, who was his much-loved partner for more than fifty years.
http://www.pinktriangle.org.uk/glh/24...

Fascinating articles, thanks Everyman! I know the name "the Compton Bookshop", but probably only from the three years when I was studying in North London. That was exactly the same time period too! But I have a longer connection with "Cecil Court" which I mentioned, as it is more central and close to the theatres etc.

It is wonderful when you develop a close relationship with a bookseller in such a way. And up until quite recently there used to be many more antiquarian booksellers in the 84, Charing Cross Road mould, here in England. Now I'm afraid you have to hunt around more, and they are likely to be in rather out of the way places, rather than busy areas.

I'm free for a week, if you need me. Please let me know:)

Everyman wrote: "Everyman wrote: "Jean wrote: "LOL Everyman! I know that edition well. And probably the bookshop too - there used to be an "enclave" of little antiquarian bookshops in Cecil Court. http://www.cecilc..."

I loved these articles: especially the one written by Geoffrey Palmer about being a happy homosexual.

Bette, will do! Let's see if anyone else comes forward who hasn't recently posted, otherwise it'd be lovely if you could step in. In case it fills up should I sign you up for August then according to our once every third month rule of thumb?

I'll check back closer to the time but I would be happy to fill a week (despite the fact I'm already signed up for the last week in June) if you are struggling. I'm going nowhere over the summer.

Thanks Alannah!

Hi Jenny, may I take the July 7th slot please? Would like to share a Chinese poem!

Sure!

I'll do the 21st, if that's ok. I think it's long enough now since my last time?

Absolutely! ...and that's our July full! Glad it's picking up again :)