Once Upon a Tome: The Misadventures of a Rare Bookseller
Some years ago, Oliver Darkshire stepped into the hushed interior of Henry Sotheran Ltd (est. 1761) to apply for a job. Allured by the smell of old books and the temptation of a management-approved afternoon nap, Darkshire was soon unteetering stacks of first editions and placating the store's resident ghost (the late Mr. Sotheran, hit by a tram).
A novice in this ancient, potentially haunted establishment, Darkshire describes Sotheran's brushes with history (Dickens, the Titanic), its joyous disorganization, and the unspoken rules of its gleefully old-fashioned staff, whose mere glance may cause the computer to burst into flames. As Darkshire gains confidence and experience, he shares trivia about ancient editions and explores the strange space that books occupy in our lives--where old books often have strong sentimental value, but rarely a commercial one.
By turns unhinged and earnest, Once Upon a Tome is the colorful story of life in one of the world's oldest bookshops and a love letter to the benign, unruly world of antiquarian bookselling, where to be uncommon or strange is the best possible compliment.
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Become an affiliatePeculiarly hilarious!--William Gibson
Brim[s] with self-effacing charm.--Caitlin Doughty
Laugh-out-loud.--Garth Nix
Unfortunately I have mislaid the book in question.--Neil Gaiman
Seeking a Christmas present for that bibliophilic relative who has seemingly read everything? It's right here.--Suzi Feay "Financial Times"
Utterly charming.--Tom Holland
A browse through these hilarious pages is just as satisfying as a browse in a good bookshop.--Danny Caine, Raven Book Store, Lawrence, Kansas
[W]itty and heartwarming.... Darkshire's sunny temperament and respect for the trade will resonate with book lovers and fellow booksellers.-- "Publishers Weekly"
Witty. Whimsical. Smart. A cozy gem for people who love books, bookstores, and booksellers. I loved this memoir so much I instantly picked it for our Fantastic Strangelings Book Club. Go read it. You'll thank me.--Jenny Lawson, New York Times bestselling author of Broken (In the Best Possible Way)