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London Fortean Bookshop

Stormkhan

Stormkhan

Disturbingly familiar
Joined
May 28, 2003
Messages
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Can anyone recommend me a couple of bookshop, specialising in Forteana. Not too expensive, not too drenched in New Age/Paganism gizmos.
Y'now - fairly easy-going books such as biographies of Harry Price, the phenomena of SHC etc. Preferably central London.

Not asking for much am I?
 
That's a tough one, the Atlantis bookshop springs to mind (just up the road from the British Museam) but it's more occult than Fortean (does have quite a varied selection though.)

Other than that I suppose you've got Foyles on Charing X road which has a reasonable section of Fortean books.

Perhaps a business niche there Stormy?
 
Heckler said:
Other than that I suppose you've got Foyles on Charing X road which has a reasonable section of Fortean books.
Click to expand...
They certainly have a Fortean sorting system.

I knew there was somewhere I meant to go when I was in London last time.
 
I think Foyles is in for a visit from the Khan. I can nip into Murder One to spend even more money.

I've been into Atlantis once or twice. I couldn't shake the feeling that the staff were either trying to categorise me as a particular pagan worshipper or willing me to move into a more harmonius position so not to spoil the aura of the shelves.
 
Watkins Bookshop in Charing Cross is another classic - past clientele include WB Yeats, Dion Fortune and a certain Mr Crowley...the collection encompasses aspects of pretty much everything peculiar or occult, including Forteana.

The oriental bookshop opposite the British museum is also worth a look because it often contains some truly odd stuff. Also, it is an atmospheric fragment of our Imperial past.
 
Stormkhan said:
I think Foyles is in for a visit from the Khan. I can nip into Murder One to spend even more money.

I've been into Atlantis once or twice. I couldn't shake the feeling that the staff were either trying to categorise me as a particular pagan worshipper or willing me to move into a more harmonius position so not to spoil the aura of the shelves.
Click to expand...

I mentioned to the owner once how I'd popped into an occult shop in York and she not only named the owner but also reeled off a list of areas he was interested in, Tarot, Astrology etc. so I suspect you may be right she probably has a file card system hidden away of people's pagan persuasions! :D

Murder One is also marvellous had been looking for a copy of Falling Angel by William Hjortsberg for yonks, a dealer on Amazon wanted £40 or something silly, Murder One had three different editions all for under a fiver.
 
Heckler said:
...had been looking for a copy of Falling Angel by William Hjortsberg for yonks, a dealer on Amazon wanted £40 or something silly....
Click to expand...

£40 :shock: I've been trying to cull my bookshelves after moving, and gave my copy to SCOPE's charity shop a couple of weeks ago.
 
I admit to spending far too much money (according to my missus) in Murder One on crime fiction. Then again, I enjoy them and it gives me fodder for my website.

See http://www.criminal-history.co.uk

Like a washbasin ... I enjoy a quick plug!
 
I can second Watkins... it's brilliant. Loads of obscure mags like Magonia in stock there too. And they have a good second-hand bit in the basement. For them that don't know, It's down at the lower end of Charing Cross road near Trafalgar Square... Cecil Court is it? either that or the identical street parallel to it


I adore Foyle's... It's like walking around inside a Radio 4 programme. The staff are great too.. real eccentrics, some of them. Best of all they never seem to get rid of books that don't sell... there's stuff on the shelves that's been there 50 years or more! You can even buy portions of the old shelving now that theyv'e got new ones.
 
Yep, Watkins is on Cecil's Court.

The whole of that area of Charing Cross is awash with secondhand bookshops - its a place of bibliophile pilgrimage. :)
 
This evening, on the way back from work, I did a recce on Watkins. When I've unlocked my wallet, I'll take a browse in there longer.
Sad to say, I spotted a nearby "collectable" shop to sell off some figurines that might be better than a pension-plan.
However, now I know where Watkins is, I can bankrupt myself in three bookshops rather than just the (Murder) One.
 
<Homo Aves hurredly padlocks her jesses to the main beam.>

"Dont tempt me!!"
 
Heckler20 said:
Murder One is also marvellous had been looking for a copy of Falling Angel by William Hjortsberg for yonks, a dealer on Amazon wanted £40 or something silly, Murder One had three different editions all for under a fiver.
Click to expand...

Hey, who knew? William Hjortsberg has an official site!

http://www.williamhjortsberg.com/
 
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