We were in Edinburgh on Tuesday, right in the middle of the city – Princes Street, we don’t often go there but I wanted to visit the Habitat store. It was a bit of a shock to discover that Habitat has gone from Edinburgh, I knew the one in Glasgow had closed. I suppose we have the internet to blame for that, apparently it closed about five years ago and I’ve only just found out, so obviously they never made much money from me.
Anyway, we rarely go to Edinburgh without visiting Stockbridge, the secondhand bookshops are far more my cup of tea than the shops in Princes Street, or Shandwick Place for that matter. Stockbridge is about a 20 minute walk from the centre of Edinburgh and it’s like a wee separate town, with lots of independent shops – and charity shops of course. You can see some images of parts of Stockbridge here.
I was lucky bookwise as you can see.
A lot of them are childrens books, but I like to catch up on what I missed out on as a child. I don’t think I’ve ever read a Nancy Drew book, but I know that Joan @ Planet Joan is a big fan so I couldn’t resist buying:
The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene.
The Marvelous Land of Oz by Frank Baum. I’ve yet to read The first Oz book although I have the second.
The Lantern Bearers by Rosemary Sutcliff. It’s about Britain just after the Romans left, a dark time of change and upheaval. (Does it remind you of anything?!)
Once Upon a Time by A.A. Milne. This book was first published in 1917 but my copy is a 1962 reprint. It’s a series of hilarious adventures apparently – involving a cloak of darkness, magic swords and seven league boots. It sounds like fun – for children of all ages.
A Folly of Princes by the Scottish author Nigel Tranter is set in Fife where I live and involves some of the local castles and King Robert III, it should be interesting as although Tranter wrote fiction his books were well researched.
Crime at Christmas by C.H.B. Kitchin was first published in 1934 but this one is a 2015 reprint by Faber and Faber. I’m going to keep this one fro Christmas reading.
Lament for a Maker by Michael Innes – another Scottish author – was first published in 1938 and it was recommended to me by a blogger yonks ago. I have read a lot of his books, including the ones he wrote under the name J.I.M. Stewart and I always enjoy his writing.
I think you’ll agree that I had quite a successful day in Edinburgh – despite not being able to do my planned shopping in Habitat.
What a great haul! I adored Rosemary Sutcliff books as a child.
I’ve never been to Edinburgh; it’s been stubbornly stuck on my list of places to visit. When I finally get there I must be sure to visit Stockbridge. It sounds very much like my sort of place.
Sandra,
I’m sure you would enjoy Stockbridge and Edinburgh in general, it’s quite a long drive from Cornwall though. We drove all the way to Cornwall in one day some years ago but nowadays we stop off somewhere overnight when we go on such long journeys.
That is a great haul! I don’t think I knew about that store when we were in Edinburgh, if it was even around way back then. The Nancy Drew you bought will be a rewrite. In the late 1950s and 1960s, they updated the stories. I my opinion, they lost their charm.
Joan,
Rats – I think that book is a 1959 reprint, I thought the rewrites had been done in the 70s or 80s. I’ll read it sometime anyway.
What fun finds! Any day that includes books is a good day đŸ™‚
Stefanie,
I’ve bought more since then – in Glasgow this time!
If I ever make it back to Edinburgh, I’ll be sure and visit that bookshop. You found some great books!
Paula
Paula,
I love those secondhand bookshops as you just never know what you might find on their shelves!