Persephone Books – London, England

When I shared that I would be visiting London and asked for suggestions, so many people said I had to visit Persephone Books. I’m glad I took the suggestion! I wanted to share a bit about this interesting store and publisher and continue on with my England book haul by sharing my Persephone purchases.

Persephone Books was founded in 1998 to publish books, primarily written by women, that had gone out of print. According to their website: The name Persephone was chosen as a symbol of female creativity, as well as of new beginnings (the daughter of Zeus is associated with spring). You can read the full history here.

When I entered the store the only Persephone title I was aware of was Miss. Pettigrew Lives For a Day. I asked the woman working if she could make some suggestions for me. She was so incredibly helpful! She had me explain a bit of what I was looking for and she took so much time showing me around. It was so interesting hearing about some of the titles and the stories behind them.

Unfortunately, I visited on our last day in London. I knew I was already really pushing it on space and weight in my bags, so I had to limit myself to two titles, but I could have bought so many more! I chose two of the Persephone Classics. There are twelve of these bestsellers with beautiful colored covers. All of the rest of books are numbered and published with grey covers. Here’s what I bought…

Miss. Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson

I was familiar with Miss. Pettigrew Lives for a Day already from the movie. It was highly recommend when I asked for suggestions of books that take place in London. I knew for sure I would want to buy this one when I entered the shop and I’m looking forward to reading it!

Summary from publisher: Miss Pettigrew, an approaching-middle-age governess, was accustomed to a household of unruly English children. When her employment agency sends her to the wrong address, her life takes an unexpected turn. The alluring nightclub singer, Delysia LaFosse, becomes her new employer, and Miss Pettigrew encounters a kind of glamour that she had only met before at the movies. Over the course of a single day, both women are changed forever.

ISBN for this edition: 9781906462024
Available for purchase from Persephone’s website.
Also available at: Amazon and Book Depository

The Home-Maker by Dorothy Canfield Fisher

There were so many great books pointed out to me by the lovely shop assistant, but this one stood out to me the most. This sounded so ahead of it’s time and like it will be a very interesting read.

Summary from publisher: Although this novel first appeared in 1924, it deals in an amazingly contemporary manner with the problems of a family in which both husband and wife are oppressed and frustrated by the roles they are expected to play. Evangeline Knapp is the perfect, compulsive housekeeper, while her husband, Lester, is a poet and a dreamer. Suddenly, through a nearly fatal accident, their roles are reversed: Lester is confined to home in a wheelchair and his wife must work to support the family. The changes that take place between husband and wife and particularly between parents and children are both fascinating and poignant.

ISBN for this edition: 9781906462130
Available for purchase from Persephone’s website
Also available at: Amazon and Book Depository

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Other England book haul posts: YA/Middle Grade and Non-fiction

Persephone Books – London, England