Okay, Cecil Court is absolutely one of the best streets in London for bookshops. There are at least ten on this stretch of back alley road. It's fabulous! Some of them are a bit fancier, as their business is buying and selling more expensive first editions and rare collectors' books. But, though the proprietor will eye you beadily while you're browsing around (okay, so there was just one owner who did that to me... maybe because I had my backpack on...), these shops are still really fun to browse around in, if only to look at the older books. Some of them are absolutely gorgeous!

Greening Burland Bookshop

Cecil Court!

That's okay, don't be. Here's an interesting bookstore for you. Daunt Books is an Edwardian bookshop on Marylebone High Street that is nothing short of glorious, with long oak galleries and soaring windows. Books are arranged by country, rather than alphabetically, so guides, maps, non-fiction and fiction all sit alongside one another, for a unique browsing experience. I didn't know about this jewel until after I had left London... but man, I certainly wish I had! This seriously looks like the coolest place!

Daunt Books!

Snazzy!

Located underneath Waterloo Bridge on Queen's Walk, the Southbank Book Market is one of London's best kept secrets. Just outside it's open daily, come rain or shine, and you can browse for hours through hundreds of second-hand and antique books, on any topic imaginable. I actually walked through this, but couldn't spent a lot of time there, as I was with some friends and we were running late for a play we were going to see at a nearby theatre. But, it looked amazing, and when I go back to London, I'm making more time to go there.

Huzzah!

Something for everyone, right?

Ah, there's the drum roll. The big city. A cultural capital of the world, and a city of incredible history. I love London! I love everything about it; the craggy sidewalks and gardens and the parks. They have beautiful walkways and gardens that you can literally spend hours just walking through. And of course, there are hundreds of bookshops around the city! So many, many to list! I'm going to narrow it down to ten, over the next few entries. Excited? Me too.

Foyles is one of London's most famous bookshops, and has five floors crammed with every kind of book imaginable. The store has been on Charing Cross Road since 1906 and still stocks the UK's largest range of books. I didn't get to go to this one while I was in England, but I did hear of it, and meant to try to get there.      

I love the names in England; even the street names and village names are just fabulous! Anyhow, so Max Gate! Thomas Hardy designed this house and lived here from 1885 until his death in 1928. This is where he wrote Tess of the d'Urbervilles, Jude the Obscure and The Mayor of Casterbridge, as well as much of his poetry. Thomas Hardy is not, shall we say, one of the happier authors I've ever read, but I really like his writing style. And having seen Dorset and the area that he describes in his books... well, it's beautiful and well worth potential temporary depression you might get from reading his books. Seriously, my roommate and I once watched the new BBC's Tess of the D'Urbervilles, and it is tragic. We were both balling by the end; like, outright heart-crushingly sobbing. But it was really interesting learning more about his life!

Max Gate!

Just the very picture of England, right?

Thomas Hardy's Dorset.

You may be wondering... well then, where's the bookshop? It's in the house, and consists of a large tables wit a small selection of Hardy's novels and some biographies about him. Quaint, isn't it? But seriously, this area, you may just want to spend all your time outside reading than inside choosing that book to read... 

Okay, so another really neat place to go and visit while you're in England: Blenheim Palace. And of course, there is a neat little book and gift shop there in one of the wings. This palace was birthplace to Sir Winston Churchill, and is absolutely stunningly fancy. I dunno even where to begin describing now only how big it is, but also how ornate and exquisite it really is. The gardens alone are worth the flight over to the UK. You walk through the inside kind of like you would a haunted house... and guess what? There are even mannequins to greet you... well, more like wax figures of the famous families and  public figures who have lived there. And wow, you have to be pretty classy to live here! Seriously though, those wax figures are creepy. Super creepy. Like, the-Doctor-might-have-to-rescue-us-from-them creepy. But that'd be okay, because I want to go into TARDIS.

Blenheim Palace!

Fancy!

Gives you an idea of how large the estate really is!

So, the bookshop is, I must admit, very specialized. There are mostly books about the history and families of Blenheim Palace, and about Churchill. But seriously, they have a nice selection when it comes to the historical and archeological aspects of the palace. And, they have great postcards! No, but really, it's a thrill just walking around those gargantuan rooms and seeing all the beautiful decor.

The inspiration of Wordsworth, and probably one of the coolest ancient ruins... ever. At least, in the abbey/monastery category. We spent a couple of hours here, on a misty, gray morning. I can't believe how big this place once was! Although, it's not even the biggest ancient monastery in England. Tintern Abbey is in Wales, which, along with the abbey, is simply and achingly beautiful. 

Panoramic Tintagel.

The beautiful poster I amazingly got home from Wales in one piece...

Okay, if you love the ocean as much as you love books, then Tintagel in Cornwall is absolutely the place for you... actually, there are lots of places by the sea that have books... but, the other bookshops aren't called The King Arthur Bookshop (with a specialty in the Arthurian legends), are they? Ha! Tintagel wins! Welcome, dear Sir or Lady, to King Arthur country.

So actually, this town is really awesome. It's one of the rare places that you can actually see in one day and not feel like you've missed anything. And yet, you could spend a whole week where and still not be bored. I couldn't believe how much there is to do! There's Merlin's Cave, King Arthur Bookshop, King Arthur's Hall, King Arthur's Cornwall (I know, I know), Camelot Castle Hotel (apparently, Nicolas Cage was staying there last Spring when we went), Tintagel Castle (rumored to be where King Arthur was conceived, oddly enough), and of course, a visitor's center. The Old Post Office is really awesome too... can I live there already? And oh my goodness, you simply have to try clotted cream on scones while your there... there's actually an amazing bakery just across the street from the King Arthur Bookshop, called Pengenna Pasties. Simply fabulous!

Tintagel Castle!

Merlin's Cave... careful, it likes to steal pant leg halves.

The Old Post Office.

But, the thing I liked about the King Arthur Bookshop was that is was so specialized. Nearly every places in England claims to have some connection with King Arthur, but nearly every source agrees that he was born around this area. So, they have all sorts of books and gifts centered on The Arthurian legend and its history. I could have stayed in there for hours! This whole area, and especially Tintagel, are a must for any King Arthur fan.

What trip to England would be complete without a visit to Oxford? Home of one of the oldest universities in the English-speaking world, of the four-minute mile, of Lewis and Tolkien and Carroll. The university is beautiful! There's only one thing that I didn't like about Oxford. The general public isn't admitted into the Bodleian Library. It looks perfectly lovely, though. You probably know that it's where they filmed the library scenes in the Harry Potter films. Exciting, huh?

Bodleian Library!

Somewhere inside...

UK Barnes and Noble?

Booklover Oxford!

Edinburgh is one of my favorite cities in the world. Not only is it the stunningly beautiful home of Harry Potter (which is simply awesome all by itself), but it's also the city of Sir Walter Scott, and my personal favorite, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Sherlock Holmes fan, anyone? I would so marry him... if he were the marrying type. oh, which reminds me, anyone seen the new BBC drama Sherlock? It. Is. Fantastic! I wish  they would do more episodes! But, it's a mini-series, really. Check out this preview, and tell me if you think a modern Holmes isn't just as cool...



Anyways, so back in Edinburgh. It's a perfectly wonderful place, and I went into the National Library of Scotland and the Edinburgh Central Library. I was astounded! How lucky are they who get to use these place every day? Granted, this isn't a bookshop; but, I have another confession. I love libraries. They are like a temple for books. Mostly. But this library was astounding! It was one of the most beautiful and reverent libraries I've ever been in. I felt smarter just for walking in the door. Can I just say that those people who started public libraries were Godsents? I mean, the idea really is brilliant. I know sometimes I pass up spending money on a book, even if I love it, simply because I know I can get it anytime I want at the library. It's a place of wisdom, learning, and progress. It symbolizes the mind's desires to simply know and understand.

Perhaps I'm being too abstract. All I know was that walking around the National Library of Scotland was a highlight of the city. I'd go back just for that!

Beautiful, right?

National Library of Scotland!

Ok, this is the Edinburgh Central Library.

   Oh, and just for one last fun thought: J. K. Rowling apparently began writing Harry Potter with a view of the Edinburgh Castle from the Elephant House. Pretty amazing inspiration, eh?

Edinburgh Castle!

Okay, so I know it's back to Bath, but with the mention of Jane Austen in the most recent post, you knew it was coming, right? I LOVE JANE AUSTEN! Seriously, as much as Charlotte Bronte and Harry Potter. So, there is a Jane Austen Centre in Bath, because she lived in Bath for a time. There's evidence that while she revised and started a new novel, Austen didn't complete one while she lived there. It appears like it was a difficult time in her family. Anyways, there's a neat shop there, before you go into the exhibit. The centre itself isn't free to get in to, but the store is, and they have a really neat collection of rare copies of Austen's books. They have every single book she ever wrote, and then some of the many biographies written about her. They also had a collection of her letters, which is pretty cool because for the most part, Jane asked for her personal correspondence to be destroyed after her death. 

Jane Austen Centre!

 I really love what her sister writes about her upon her death. She says: "I have lost a treasure, such a sister, such a friend as never can have been surpassed. She was the sun of my life, the gilder of every pleasure, the soother of every sorrow; I had not a thought concealed from her, and it is as if I had lost a part of myself. I loved her only too well..." (Letter from Cassandra Austen to her niece, Ms. Knight).

 Pride and Prejudice, as for most Austen fans, is a cult classic. It's a beautiful story that captures the essence of humanity, and its goodness. I loved visiting Austen's home and her resting place at Winchester. I learned a lot about her on my trip to England... I remember once walking from Austen's home to our hostel (which was about nine or ten miles) with my friend, who had just taken an class on Austen and was telling my all sorts of thing I didn't know about her. The bottom line? Don't trust the movie Becoming Jane for her history. It's pure conjecture, even if it is a good story. And yet... I can't help but love her outfits in the film :)

Anne Hathaway as Jane Austen.

Winchester Cathedral!

So Winchester is a really fun town! I absolutely loved the cathedral! It's stunningly impressive, beautiful, and there's just so much to see. It also happens to be the burial site of Jane Austen, which makes Winchester cathedral a pilgrimage site for some. The cathedral has a really extensive book store, too. It's fabulous. I wish I was better at architectural history. I can tell you the cathedral is Romanesque style, because of its sweeping arches and windows. But, other than that, I got nothing. But, like I said, the Cathedral Shop is cool, although it is a bit specialized. But you gotta expect that, right? Anyways, here's more info!

Cathedral Facade

Jane Austen Memorial

Hello readers! I know it's been a few days since I've updated. Fist, I just have to say how amazing Google Earth is. It's kinda of a creepy wonderful. It's been helping me find the names of some of the bookshops that I remember absolutely loving, but couldn't remember the name of. See, I associate things I liked over in England by the city we were in at the time. So, Palace Street in Canterbury is a really interesting and fun street to walk down. It's got a lot of kooky shops... but I loved it! Canterbury was probably one of my favorite shops. There were two fabulous bookshops there. One was run by these two elderly men, who were both so funny! I always have the best conversations in bookshops... ha. I have a story about a guy I met in a London bookstore... but that's for another time. Anyways, I got a really fun copy of King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table. It's not Le Morte d'Arthur, which is the compilations of King Arthur stories that many Arthurian writers have used as a foundation text, but it's still fun. I actually want to find a copy of Le Morte d'Arthur... I found one in a really neat bookstore in Maine, once,  but for some reason I didn't get it. Anyways, it's a really open, cheery bookstore, and actually (I didn't realize this at the time) but it's a charity fundraising bookshop, for a organization called Catching Lives. Read all about it here!

Book Palace!

Oxfam is an international charity organization that proves humanitarian relief around the world. But they also have a chain of secondhand stores where they sell donated items; the proceeds from which are what fund Oxfam. Anyways, they have these stores all across the United Kingdom, and seriously, this is the best case ever of not knowing what you're going to find. They have everything! Clothes, accessories, games, and books, many many books. I saw copies of Harry Potter in probably every Oxfam store I went to. You just kind of have to go in and see; sometimes, you'll find really beautiful old copies of classic stories, or almost brand new paperbacks. If you know what you want, you'll be able to find out if they have it. Oh, they also have an awesome childrens' books section. Just look for the green lettering, and it's time to go treasure hunting! Huzzah! So, sorry this is a short post, readers. Busy week! But seriously, I like the idea of mixing books with charitable donations. I am a big reader, and love books so much that I want everyone to have similar experiences. To be able read and experience things through the imagination is truly a gift. No wonder my roommates would start singing Belle as I'd walk in the door with my nose in a book... and I really can't think of a nickname I'd rather have.

Oxfam Books!

It's official via me: Bath is one of most unique cities in England. It's got a fascinating history, beautiful architecture, a really neat hostel, and, of course, a incredible amount of places to buy books. I got my copy of one of my favorites stories ever: The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. I went to The Guildhall Market (All about it here!), and wow, it was like a miniature world of jewelry shops, places to eat (delicious bakeries there), bookshops, and just about every other kinda of keepsake and knickknack you could ever hope to find. It. Was. Amazing!
 

Self-Explanatory...

I stayed in there for a while, and didn't even see everything. But, there is this place called Skoobs, which was paperback trading central. They had hundreds of books in this little space, and they were well priced too. It was so fun to peruse their selection, because you literally didn't know what you were going to find! You could tell they tried to keep it organized, bless them, but with all the people coming and going... there was no help for it. There are different general sections, like Fiction, Cooking, Current Affairs, and so on, so you could find the general topic pretty well. Otherwise, it was a browse-to-find experience. And we love that if we're not looking for something in particular. Right, guys?

Also possibly self-explanatory...

 I also found this video on The Marketplace Cafe, which is fascinating if you love local culture. And see if you can spot Skoobs! I kinda want to meet Dolly now... anyways, I thought this was excellent. And relevant. Let me know if you agree.



Oh, and have an awesome week!

Hello! This is kind of a special tribute to you artists. So one of my favorite towns in England is Keswick, home of the Cumberland Pencil Museum. Cumbria is the district where graphite was first discovered 350 years ago. Through words, pictures and carefully restored machinery, the museum traces the history of pencil making. This town is also where the famous Derwent Fine Art Pencils are made today. It's surprisingly interesting! Incidentally, it's also the home of Beatrix Potter, better known as the author of Peter Rabbit stories. Oh my goodness, for such a small town, there were a surprisingly awesome amount of bookshops! I mentioned the Cumberland Pencil Museum because they have a fabulous selection of art books and Beatrix Potter series. I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure my favorite part of the Peter Rabbit stories are the illustrations. They are gorgeous!

So, back to the bookshops in Keswick... there are several there, but two that I really liked were called Henry Wilson Books, on Main Street. It was a fabulous mix of old and new. Here's the thing: this particular shop doesn't focus on fiction. They have a lot of military and social history books, as well as a large section of transport and industrial history (including subjects like the railroads, aviation, and so forth).  So it's a definite must if you're looking for those specific topics. It isn't as though there is no fiction section. I found Harry Potter there, which I almost bought just because I was in the mood to read it that day. Luckily, I'm not too bad of an impulse buyer. Here's the link for more information!

I want a library someday... wouldn't mind if it looked like this.

The second bookshop I really liked was called, simply, the The Old Bookshop, over on Market Street. I was drawn to this store because, first, the sign was adorable, and because I can't resist the words "book" and "shop." The place is somewhat of a hotspot for local and national authors, who often do book signings there. They have an enormous stock of new and antiquarian maps, documents, and of course, books. They did seem to be a bit more well established, even garnering attention in travel magazines and being featured in the national press. They're website has a great Search function, which is always nice if you know what you're looking for. As always, here's their website! All in all, this was probably one of my favorite towns we went to, and I think it was because there were so many fun shops (the best being the bookstores, of course... and that candy store...)

See! Great sign! Am I right?

"Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts as much as their brothers do; they suffer from too rigid a restraint, too absolute a stagnation, precisely as men would suffer; and it is narrow-minded in their more privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering bags."  ~ Jane

So, the quote is in honor of one of my most favorite authors (superlative intended :); I decided I just had to feature Charlotte Brontë . Because she is that brilliant. I only wish that it were her birthday or something. But that's not 'til April, 'cuz I know now you're wondering. Anyhow, Jane Eyre literally changed my life. I know every girl you've ever known (including you, if you're a girl) might have told you the same thing. Well, hey. It's true. It's the quintessential story of the "Plain Jane" finding true happiness, however creepy it is that Rochester is waaaay to old for her. But hey! Happiness is happiness, right? I guess. But it's more than that. It's the story that gives the girl who is shy and uncertain of herself confidence, the story that makes a girl believe she is worth something. And also, aside from the fact that it is beautifully written and surprisingly entertaining, the incredibly human experiences that Jane endures resonate with the our own human nature.

For a long time, Jane was my hero. I don't know, maybe she still is. But either way, I was really excited to visit the moors around Haworth and visit the Brontë Parsonage. If you ever have been there, tell me: did it help you understand the Brontë sisters' writings? Because I feel like I understand Charlotte so much better after seeing the environment in which she grew up. The moors are a desolate, soul-sucking kind of place, but hauntingly beautiful at the same time.

Haworth Moors, Google.

But she also grew up next to a cemetery, which explain the somber tone in her stories, and her eerie and premature understanding of death.

Brontë Parsonage, Howard Carlilse.

Okay, so that wonderful painting makes the place seem a bit more cheerful than it really is, however pretty:

The Real Brontë Parsonage.

Um, yeah. I loved this day. It was like my own personal literary pilgrimage. It's worth it to note that right next to the parsonage is the Brontë Parsonage Museum... actually, it's kind of an extension to the house, of sorts. There is a really neat shop there, with a fantastic selection of every book about the Brontë sisters you'd ever need. There are lots of different versions of their novels and poetry, too; some I hadn't even heard of! The link to the museum's is here!

Oh, and bytheway, can I just say how excited I am for the new adaptation of Jane Eyre by Focus Features? I thought they did well with Pride and Prejudice, and now they are doing another of my favorite stories! Look it up on IMDB. It's got a stellar cast, with Jamie Bell, and Judi Dench. Huzzah! Here's a first look:

Mia Wasikowska as Jane Eyre.

Chaucer Head in Stratford-upon-Avon

What better way to start a blog about bookshops and English literature than in Shakespeare country, with one of the most prolific authors in the English language?

So I found this little book store walking along with my friend on our way to eat lunch at this fabulous restaurant called The Encore. If you ever get a chance, check it out. It's by the theatre for the Royal Shakespeare Company... trust me, those two together make for a really good evening! Anyways, the Chaucer Head is a fabulous secondhand bookshop with a great variety and excellent organization. The prices are really reasonable, too. Chaucer Head has over 12,000 titles in stock, and their online website (which, incidentally, is right here) has a really neat search feature that looks through their inventory for specific titles or authors. They have an entire nook for paperback fiction, as well as an entire bookshelf for antiquarian and collectible classics, like Austen, Dickens, and Twain. Ha, yes... Twain. Kinda awesome, right?

My favorite buy from almost my entire trip to England came from this shop: I got an 1899 copy of Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist, for about £12. It's beautiful! I love that story. It's so quintessentially Dickens! I was super excited to find this one. Go ahead. You can think I'm silly.

 Oh, and question for you today: What's your favorite Shakespeare play? For me, I can't decide. It's between Hamlet and Twelfth Night... and a little bit Romeo and Juliet. 
 
So, speaking of Shakespeare country, how many of you are Shakespeare and Doctor Who fans? Me!!! Here's a video that you can enjoy. Ah, the talent of Tennant!

I also want to get your insight! Have you been to one of these places? What are your favorite bookstores? What kinds of books do you buy? Are you looking for something in particular? Have you read any of the authors or poets that I talk about in a certain post? I know there are so many of you out there that love to read and love to travel. I wanted to combine the two! I'll start off right now in England, but there are thousands of amazing bookstores around the world. Maybe one day soon, your favorite place can be featured. So, here's to the cycle of sharing books: Pass it on.