Michael
I’m not English. In fact I have only lived here for a few years. So when Osprey Publishing bought Shire I suddenly found myself surrounded by weird and unfamiliar books. Working in the marketing department I was presented with a Shire catalogue and told to have a look through it.
Panic set in. What on earth is a buttonhook or Copeland, or a bobbin? I wouldn’t know a Bullnose Morris if it came up and slapped me in the face. And surely Pratt Ware can’t be what I think it is?
The panic faded, and I found myself drawn into the world of Shire. Waiting for the kettle to boil for my morning coffee will see me standing in front of the shelves of Shire books we have in the office, running my finger along countless spines in amazement. I always find a book I didn’t know Shire published. I always find something new and interesting to read. And before I know it the water in the kettle has gone cold (or been nicked by someone else), so I have to boil the kettle all over again – and have another quick browse!
If I was trapped in a lift, the book that I would have with me would have to be Discovering Cathedrals – the view from Prebends Bridge of Durham Cathedral which graces the front cover is one of my favourite places in the whole world. I also read quite quickly, so the fact that it is one of the larger, bumper versions of the Discovering series is an added bonus. If I inherited a fortune I would buy myself a house big enough to have a library. One of those traditional libraries you see in old country houses, where there is no visible wall space, just shelves and shelves of books waiting to be read. With a ladder to reach the higher shelves. A nice leather chair to sit in. And a fire when it is cold. Sigh...