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Buying a book of poetry in the UK can be a dispiriting
business. Most book chains stock hardly any poetry at all: a few dog-eared
classics lean sadly among piles of commercial anthologies and humorous
verse and new collections appear only briefly, if at all. Books from the
smaller presses are often impossible to find on the high street.
The alternatives are there of course, for the initiated: if you know
what you want you can get it on Amazon, and the Poetry Book Society is
a brilliant way to browse contemporary poetry and obtain books easily.
If only the UK had a book shop like Grolier in the US (www.grolierpoetrybooks.com),
with its devotion to poetry, its 15,000 titles and its website strapline:
‘Every moment, every day, every month, every year, we celebrate
poetry!’ Is there anywhere approximating this for UK poetry-lovers?
Are there any bookshops at all where buying poetry could actually be a
pleasure?
Poetry London took it upon itself to winkle out those shops where poetry
is a highlight rather than an embarrassment, where staff are interested
and knowledgeable and where poetry is promoted and encouraged. The bookshops
suggested to us by readers, publishers and poets are all very different
and good for poetry readers and writers in different ways. We came up
with eight criteria against which these shops were assessed: an unscientific
method, but one which enables us to highlight for you the strengths of
each store. The criteria were:
1. The number of titles stocked
2. The proportion of this number which is contemporary poetry
3. Ease of ordering books
4. Poetry events — how many and what kind
5. Knowledgeability of staff
6. Browseability and atmosphere
7. Shop’s policy on returning stock to the publisher
8. Stock of poetry magazines
What emerges is that poetry bookselling, while still a minority interest,
is alive and fairly well — if you are in the capital. Outside London
and the south-east a good shop is harder to find, and not one shop in
Scotland was usefully recommended. Perhaps we have missed some, in which
case I hope you will write in with more recommendations, so that the following
list can be updated and, hopefully, increased.
A key feature of the best poetry bookshops is a flexible approach to
returning books to the publisher after a given length of time. Because
reviews of poetry books often take a long time to appear, it is essential
that a shop is able to keep books for longer than would be expected for
faster moving books. The best shops see keeping certain books as important
to maintain a comprehensive section, even if they are slow-moving. As
one bookseller put it: ‘Keeping some books is a point of honour.’
All the best shops manage to balance slow moving stock with faster-selling
titles, and in this way maintain a useful range.
The big chains are notorious for having a ruthless returns policy which
stops poetry thriving. However, there is unexpected good news from them
in this and other areas. Although times have changed and central buying,
as well as a tough attitude to returns are big features of bookselling,
talented individuals still can carve out a fairly independent niche for
themselves and create a poetry section that becomes well-known and valuable
to the store. However, such an oasis does rely on an individual and when
that individual leaves, there is often nothing to ensure that what they
created remains.
It is often the independents and the small unexpected stores, such as
in our list Salts Mill, where an individual gets the freedom to develop
an imaginative poetry section that is completely unexpected. Let us know
about such finds.
FOYLES BOOKSHOP
Charing Cross Road, London Tel: 020 7437 5660
www.foyles.co.uk
Sion Hamilton
Foyles has a massive 3,500 titles which range from the small self-published
pamphlet to important new collections and anthologies. Around 40% are
contemporary poets, and Sion goes out of his way to track down new releases
from lesser known presses: Salt Publishing’s new books for instance
can be found in Foyles. ‘You have to hold back on returns with poetry,’
says Sion. ‘It’s the only way to give books a chance.’
Foyles is the most browsable store we have come across: you can never
be sure what you will find on the shelves, but if you can’t find
it Sion will order it for you. You can also order books through the website.
Offsetting the slower moving books against best sellers keeps an impressive
range of books available and also means that the section performs well.
‘On occasion the poetry section has outsold the crime section!’
Sion says. As well as books, the section is moving into stocking journals,
including Poetry London, and there is also a programme of poetry events
in place. A recent addition to Foyles is The Gallery, a bright new space
specially designed for readings and other literary events. The prognosis
for poetry at Foyles is very good: ‘We want to move to section nearer
the front of the shop, and get more face-outs. Then we may even attract
buyers who don’t know much about poetry.’
PALMER’S GREEN BOOKSHOP
Green Lanes London Tel: 020 8882 2088
Joanna Cameron and Marvin Thompson
Tucked away in Stevie Smith’s home area of London is an independent
bookshop where poetry has pride of place. Around 500 titles including
children’s poetry can be found here, two-thirds of which is contemporary
poetry. Marvin is a poet himself and has input into the stocking decisions
and the store aims to service the interests of its local community. The
smaller publishers such as Enitharmon and Hearing Eye are well represented
here, and Joanna says she has never had to return a poetry book. The section
more than pays its way.
The store is going ‘hell for leather’ with poetry events
says Joanna, including launches and readings by poets such as Mimi Khalvati
and Myra Schneider, and the store also recently celebrated its illustrious
past with a 10 day festival celebrating the poetry of Stevie Smith. There
are plans for a website.
THE POETRY BOOKSHOP
Hay on Wye Tel: 01497 821812 poetrybookshop@aol.com
www.thepoetrybookshop.co.uk
Chris and Melanie Prince
The Poetry Bookshop was started 30 years ago by Anne Stevenson and Michael
Farley and for the last eight years has been run by Chris Prince and his
wife. Arranged on the stairwells towards a former ice house, it has a
wide range of second-hand poetry books, with an emphasis on books that
cannot be obtained elsewhere. Although a proportion of the stock comes
from returns, Chris sources his books from many places and a significant
amount is contemporary poetry, his own particular enthusiasm. The books
are divided into sections, such as translations, or war poetry, but contemporary
poets sit alongside the great and dead in a simple A-Z system.
‘Although we always get calls about what is readily available in
the chain bookshops and what has been on the latest Poetry Please I see
it as my business to keep a lookout for those hard-to-find titles. People
are often surprised to get a call from me three years after they’ve
been to the shop saying, remember that books you wanted… I’ve
finally got it!’ explains Chris.
For the Prince’s the shop is as much a way of life as a business.
Chris saved the shop from closure eight years ago and since then has carved
out a particular niche. For browsing or specialist booksearch, this is
a shop worth a journey to get to, and Chris can now order new books for
you too. Although there are very few events at the shop, this is something
that may change if as hoped the Princes are involved with the Hay Festival.
Watch the website for more details.
SALTS MILL BOOKSHOP
Salts Mill, Saltaire, West Yorkshire Tel: 01274 531185
www.saltsmill.org.uk
Anne Davies
Anne Davies, manager of the bookshop, believes all new poets need a break
and of the 200 poetry books she stocks, at least half are by contemporary
poets. She buys regularly from Bloodaxe and Carcanet and finds that the
poetry does sell, possibly because she buys what she herself would like
to read. Although she cannot order books (the shop being a small independent
within the complex housing the David Hockney gallery) the shop is an unexpected
jewel for poetry lovers. The prominence of poetry in the shop is down
to the freedom Anne has to follow her own interests. Events have been
held for Tony Harrison, but there are no plans currently to expand the
range.
BOOKS ETC
South Bank Centre, London Tel: 0207 620 0403
www.booksetc.co.uk
Alistair Bickley
This branch of Books Etc holds a healthy stock of around 2000 poetry books
at any one time including classics, must-have anthologies and contemporary
poets from publishers big and small. ‘There are some books which
move very slowly, but we feel we should stock them anyway as a point of
honour. These include some translations, which never sell well in this
country. In Britain it seems British poets sell well,’ explains
Alistair.
The poetry stock as a whole more than pays its way and is a valuable
part of the shop. Books Etc policy is that shops should reflect the locality
they are serving, and so being the South Bank Centre and in the same building
as the Poetry Library means that this store has a very strong Arts emphasis.
Within this, staff can reflect some personal taste and Alistair is knowledgeable
enough about poetry to feel that most questions that come up about poetry
can be answered. Combined with the Poetry Library, the Book Etc shop makes
the South Bank Centre an essential destination for poets and poetry readers.
Books Etc does not have a punitive returns policy, and although books
do get returned sometimes it is Alistair’s view that ‘every
book deserves a decent chance.’ The website currently only displays
contact information and does not take orders.
WATERSTONE’S
Jameson Street, Hull Tel: 01482 580234
www.waterstones.co.uk
Peter Knaggs
The strengths of this branch of Waterstone’s are in the knowledgeability
of its staff, in particular Peter himself and the branch’s willingness
both to sell journals including Poetry Review and to encourage local poetry
publishing. Wrecking Ball Press, publishers of a range of local poets
as well as other national names such as Eva Salzman, are represented alongside
the core list of mainstream titles and anthologies, and the store also
stocks the little magazines produced locally such as Rubella. The range
of books itself (around 400 books in total) is not as wide as it once
was, but anyone interested in poetry in the Hull area will nevertheless
find this branch of Waterstones to be a vital first port of call. Books
can be ordered through the Waterstone’s website: orders are routed
through Amazon.
WATERSTONE’S
Deansgate, Manchester Tel: 0161 837 3000
Dave Lovely
The poetry section at Waterstone’s Deansgate is a well-known phenomenon
among poetry lovers. Matthew Welton, the poet, ran it successfully for
several years and Dave Lovely, a poetry enthusiast himself has continued
to build the section. Of around 1,000 titles, about half are contemporary
poetry covering all the main poetry publishers, and the section also sells
some key poetry journals such as Poetry London, PN Review, Stand, Poetry
Review and The North. Dave is given the necessary freedom to maintain
a broad range of titles from translations and US imports to classics and
brand new poets. This enables the section to ‘most definitely pull
its weight’ in the shop. Events tend to be locally focused, with
poet Sophie Hannah being a recent example. However if big names are touring,
the shop is open to holding events at the shop, and it also benefits from
proximity to the Manchester Poetry Festival.
WATERSTONE’S
Above Bar, Southampton Tel: 02380 633 130
Robyn Duke
In the recent past the poetry section in this store stood out under the
management of Carl Major, with events and a wide range of stock on offer.
Carl has now gone to another store but despite the loss of this key individual,
the poetry section has received a promise of support from no less than
the regional sales director of Waterstones. New directions in the store
have begun with a connection to the local newspaper’s creative writing
section, Creative Corner, with poetry book prizes supplied by the store
for its writing competitions, and a programme of draws to encourage local
people’s interest in poetry. The store plans to expand and develop
its range of poetry.
WATERSTONE’S
Piccadilly, London Tel: 0207 851 2400
Tom Palmer
Of the 1,500 titles in this store around 25% are contemporary poetry.
Tom Palmer runs this section with great dynamism, combining a mixture
of best sellers regularly updated with promotional tables of a more eclectic
range, including new poets and contemporary American poetry. The store
also stocks a range of journals including Poetry London. Although Waterstone’s
Piccadilly hold events, the emphasis has moved away from poetry, and so
the strengths of this store are the ease of picking up best sellers and
the chance of seeing something unexpected and new.
HEFFERS
Trinity Street, Cambridge Tel: 01223 568568
www.heffers.co.uk
Jonathan Radcliffe
Of the several thousand titles stocked in this store around 40% are contemporary
poetry. Heffers is going to merge their Classic poetry section with modern
poetry, creating a substantial poetry area. Reps from all the publishers
are seen and new books taken on, but books that don’t sell in a
reasonable space of time are returned. Jonathan only recently took over
the section, and although not a poetry specialist, does see the poetry
section as one which will grow, including new single volumes as well as
the reliably selling anthologies. Heffers is also very locally focused,
with events that encourage local poets. Heffers gets good attendances
for these events and sees it as part of their bookselling role and something
which encourages interest in their poetry books.
BLACKWELLS
Broad Street, Oxford Tel: 01865 792792
www.bookshop.blackwells.co.uk
Max Lisba
Once a shining example of the best kind of poetry bookshop, Blackwells
has changed along with many of the other chains and poetry now occupies
much less space and has no promotional area within the store. However,
the store still carries over 1,000 titles and new collections are usually
obtainable: Max aims for a broad range. Nothing is kept for ‘sentimental
value’ and although translations and other perhaps slower books
are kept for a while, there is pressure to return anything that does not
turn around relatively quickly. Some bilingual poetry is also kept in
the modern languages section and Blackwells’ outstanding second-hand
section almost always has some poetry surprises for the enthusiast. Growth
in the section is not anticipated: the prediction is more ‘streamlining’:
however this does give the opportunity for more time to be paid to a section
by the staff. There’s no getting away from the fact that poetry
has taken a demotion in this store; however it remains the best poetry
section in the area, and Max supports local poetry with events such as
book launches for The Carcanet-Oxford list and reading by well-known local
poets.
LONDON REVIEW BOOKSHOP
Bury Street, London Tel: 0207 269 9030
www.lrb.co.uk
David Lee
Opening to much fanfare last year, the London Review Bookshop believes
in old-fashioned bookselling, with interested knowledgeable staff given
the independence to follow their own direction. Around 75% of the 1,500
titles are contemporary poetry, including translations and imports from
America. Poetry is a large section, around 10% of the total store, and
David Lee finds that the section sells well: size and range allow the
poetry to pay its way. As well as being eminently browsable, the bookshop
aims to encourage interest in poetry through events. This year they are
holding events for The Poetry School and they recently hosted a reading
for Mark Doty. The tone of the store and stock follows that of the LRB
itself, which may make it too limited for some readers, but the store
is a very useful point of contact for what is going on in London-based
contemporary poetry. For those interested in internet shopping, the book
has a section of the London Review of Books website, and orders can be
taken by email.
BORDERS BOOKS
Charing Cross Road, London Tel: 0207 379 8877
www.borders.co.uk
Douglas Hamilton
Borders books are all bought centrally, and so there is often not much
opportunity for staff to give their section an individual flavour. Borders
on Charing Cross Road is better than most, with more than 2,500 titles,
and a Don Paterson fan in charge of the stock. ‘About 30% of the
stock is contemporary poetry,’ says Douglas. ‘And we stock
a lot of Bloodaxe and similar publishers’ books.’ Borders
of course is very good for periodicals, and you can be sure of a copy
of Poetry London or Poetry Review at this branch. Where this shop has
carved a niche however is with its weekly Open Mike session in the store.
Every Tuesday a guest published poet joins members of the public in a
lively set of readings. The website has no facilities for ordering books
and holds contact information only.
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