A few more Brontë books & the Brownings, Robert & Elizabeth Barrett. By the way, any books you see with library spine labels on them have been legally deaccessioned (weeded) from various libraries I've worked in & brought home to be properly appreciated. I try to remove all the labels (ie getting rid of the evidence) but the spine label on
The Brownings : Letters and Poetry is under the covering of the book which has been rebound. We don't rebind books any more, we replace or withdraw, which is quite a contentious topic in library land which I'm going to leave very much alone.
I remember reading the Women's Press edition of
Aurora Leigh on the porch of my friend P's house at Daylesford over 30 years ago. I stayed there for a winter week on my own. The house was right on the lake & this was years before Daylesford became a New Age tourist destination. As well as Aurora Leigh, I read a book on Shakespeare's sonnets (which we'll be seeing later on the G shelf) & Byron's
Don Juan, which is just below.
John Buchan & Fanny Burney on this shelf as well as Marilyn Butler's terrific books about Jane Austen & her times. I've also read her biography of Maria Edgeworth.
My Byron collection is here (including
Don Juan) & A S Byatt.
Possession is one of my favourite books, so, of course I have two copies. One of them is a Folio Society edition, so I feel it's completely justified.
Another Folio Society edition of another favourite book,
A Month in the Country by J L Carr. Also my childhood copy of Alice & the books by Mary Cadogan & Patricia Craig about girls' school stories and women & detective fiction. I often dip into these & they're great fun if you have any interest in early-mid 20th century fiction. Archaeology is another of my interests & there are two classics there - Martin Carver's book on Sutton Hoo & a facsimile of Howard Carter's book on the discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb.
Next week, CAther-DOnne.
Waaay back in the 80s Marilyn Butler gave an open Jane Ausent lecture at our local university and it was so packed I couldn't get in. Still kicking myself about that! A very perceptive critic.
ReplyDeleteI would love to have heard her speak. What a shame you missed out. At least we still have the books.
DeleteI have the FS edition of Possession too. Love it.
ReplyDeleteIt is beautiful, isn't it? I like the shorter, squatter FS editions best, they're much easier to hold.
DeleteOh, so do I! It drives me crazy to have a beautiful book that's uncomfortable to read.
DeleteReaders seem to run hot or cold on Possession - for me, I thought it a wonderful evocation of the era (both the eras, in fact!). I don't tend to have many duplicates except in the sense of a real copy and an e-book, but there are certainly some beloved books where one day I would like a 'nice' copy too.
ReplyDeleteI think there's always room for another copy of a favourite book!
DeleteI'm having such fun looking at your books! You have a couple of great collections, like the Brontes and Byron. I have my childhood Alice book, too, the first 'real' book I loved (and still love). Thanks for inviting us into your home to see your books.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Joan. Looking at other people's bookshelves is always fun.
DeleteI understand about library bindings. My favorite place to get books is from library book fairs. It's the best place for a cheapskate like me to get good hardcover editions for practically nothing.
ReplyDeleteBooksales are a great way to pick up good books very cheaply. Any way to pick up more books has to be good!
DeleteI love Bill Bryson, he makes me lol and he is a fount of knowledge.
ReplyDeleteLyn as you have a lovely collection and you work in libraries, would you some time address the best way to keep books reasonably dust free? I have never found a good answer.
Did you know that BB has a new book out later this year? It's called The Road to Little Dribbling & it's another journey around the UK.
DeleteNow, dust! I don't think there is a way to keep books dust-free apart from taking them off the shelf every once in a while, cleaning the shelves, dusting the books & putting them back. I'm always surprised at how much dust (& cat hair) accumulates between dustings & I don't do it nearly often enough. At work, we never dust at all although many years ago, I remember we used to wipe down the picture books when they were returned. Those were the days...
This is like a cross between my actual and my ideal bookshelf, thank you so much for the sharing and the insight.
ReplyDeleteI'm someone else who appreciates your validation of multiple book copies. My model has always been Dorian Gray, we're told he had copies of his favourite book bound in different colours so that it would always match his mood.
Thank you for the DG reference. Now I can stop apologising for my multiple copies & say that I'm just following in the footsteps of Oscar!
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