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William Gibson hails it as 'peculiarly hilarious', whilst Lindsey Fitzharris declares 'every page is a pleasure'. This utterly charming, laugh-out-loud tale comes highly recommended by the likes of Tom Holland, Garth Nix, and Fergus Butler-Gallie. Caitlin Doughty praises its self-effacing charm, and even Neil Gaiman quips about misplacing this must-read gem.
Step into the world of Sotheran's, one of the globe's most venerable bookshops, where an eccentric apprentice presides over a motley crew of peculiar patrons, enigmatic cupboards, mysterious keys, and tomes both poisonous and otherwise. This establishment houses curiosities that stretch beyond the realm of mere books.
Our tale begins as Oliver Darkshire crosses the threshold of Henry Sotheran Ltd on Sackville Street, a literary bastion since 1761, for a job interview. Lured by the intoxicating aroma of aged volumes and the promise of sanctioned afternoon slumbers, he soon finds himself juggling precarious towers of first editions, fending off nonagenarian bibliophiles, and taking care not to disturb the shop's spectral resident—the late Mr Sotheran, tragically felled by a tram.
Darkshire's affection for Sotheran's blossomed, not merely due to its storied past (or its claim to fame as the birthplace of the most accursed book in history), but for its joyous disarray and the unspoken etiquette of its delightfully antiquated staff, whose mere glance could potentially ignite a computer.
At once unhinged and earnestly dog-eared, 'Once Upon a Tome' spins a vibrant yarn of life within one of the world's most ancient bookshops, doubling as a heartfelt ode to the charmingly chaotic realm of antiquarian bookselling.
Book ISBN: | 9781529177121 |
Book Author: | Oliver Darkshire |
Book Format: | Paperback / softback |
Book Imprint: | Penguin (Transworld) |
Book Publisher: | Transworld Publishers Ltd |
Book Dimensions: | 127 x 197 x 18 cm |
Book Publication Date: | 2023-07-09 |
Book Pagination: | 256 pages |
Book Weight: | 188g |
Sherlock & Pages is a little bookshop with a big heart. We are based in Frome, Somerset, England and curate lists of books in the areas we are passionate about – landscape, nature, history, and heritage. In short, the conservation of all we’ve inherited and all we are responsible to pass on. We aim to inspire and be inspired, to form a literary culture of care and passion about this precious planet we call home.
This is a shop where you might find something you haven’t seen before, and we like to think we’ve got something for everyone. We choose each of our books with care and for a reason. This is because our physical store is small but beautifully formed, holding only around 1200 titles at any one time. We try and recreate the feel of the shop wherever we are online, to reflect our niche categories and personality.
We have an active social media presence and aim to share our story with all our friends. The long-term goal is to build a hub for the books and writers we believe in. Who knows where our adventure will lead but by supporting Sherlock & Pages you’re helping us to add a further layer of magic to our little corner of the world. If you haven’t visited our physical store, one day you might just make a literary pilgrimage down to Somerset.
Our tagline is ‘Long Live the Hedgerows’ and our symbol a hibernating dormouse. If you want to support an independent with a unique character and which will share stories with you for years to come, then choose Sherlock & Pages. The world needs bookshops with soul, for they are ‘citadels of light.’
Sherlock & Pages is a little bookshop with a big heart. We are based in Frome, Somerset, England and curate lists of books in the areas we are passionate about – landscape, nature, history, and heritage. In short, the conservation of all we’ve inherited and all we are responsible to pass on. We aim to inspire and be inspired, to form a literary culture of care and passion about this precious planet we call home.
This is a shop where you might find something you haven’t seen before, and we like to think we’ve got something for everyone. We choose each of our books with care and for a reason. This is because our physical store is small but beautifully formed, holding only around 1200 titles at any one time. We try and recreate the feel of the shop wherever we are online, to reflect our niche categories and personality.
We have an active social media presence and aim to share our story with all our friends. The long-term goal is to build a hub for the books and writers we believe in. Who knows where our adventure will lead but by supporting Sherlock & Pages you’re helping us to add a further layer of magic to our little corner of the world. If you haven’t visited our physical store, one day you might just make a literary pilgrimage down to Somerset.
Our tagline is ‘Long Live the Hedgerows’ and our symbol a hibernating dormouse. If you want to support an independent with a unique character and which will share stories with you for years to come, then choose Sherlock & Pages. The world needs bookshops with soul, for they are ‘citadels of light.’