You may have noticed that I rather love books by twentieth century women writers, and so it was never going to be too long before I paid a visit to The Second Shelf in London. A delightful little shop in the heart of the capital selling my kinds of books.
My friend Meg and I got the train to Euston, and from there it was a short tube ride to Leicester Square on the Northern Line, swapping to the Piccadilly Line for one stop, we got off at Piccadilly Circus and walked to the shop via Shaftesbury Avenue and Great Windmill Street. Tucked away in Smiths Court is the Second Shelf – and it is a delight. The proprietor Allison Devers who has worked so hard to get this project off the ground was so warm and welcoming, and we had a lovely chat and were permitted to take photos – I did ask first of course.
There were so many books by the kinds of writers I love, I saw Daphne Du Maurier, Anita Brooker, Nina Bawden, Margaret Atwood, Virginia Woolf and many others. It is an Aladdin’s cave of women’s literature.
Well I was always going to buy some books – and of course I did. Actually, one was purchased a few weeks ago, paid for and just picked up today. The other three – were just too hard to resist. I could have bought several others. I am so happy with these four books.
A Game of Hide and Seek – by Elizabeth Taylor – one of my favourite writers, definitely one of my top five – and A Game of Hide and Seek is probably my favourite of her novels. I have a green virago edition too, which I am keeping – I have read it twice already, and as I am planning on re-reading some of the others this is just going on my special books, bookshelf for now. It isn’t a first edition, it’s the book club edition (book club editions are cheaper obviously) but I adore the cover. I can just imagine Harriet and Vesey going into that little house.
My mothers House and Sido by Colette – I have been reminded a couple of times lately how I really need to read more Colette – and this gorgeous little book shouted out to me. A 1953, American first edition.
The Unspeakable Skipton by Pamela Hansford Johnson, I have come to really enjoy PHJ’s writing. She was pretty prolific, and I have only read about four of her novels so far. This one just sounds so interesting, and I loved the cover. It is also a first edition.
The Rain Forest by Olivia Manning – many of you will have seen my love of Olivia Manning through my reading of The Balkan and Levant trilogies (the last one of those left to read) and others of her work. This, one of her later novels is a first edition.
I am completely delighted with my beautiful purchases.
After this we went to a tiny deli next door and had a cup of tea – the food smelled amazing – but we had a table booked elsewhere where we were meeting three other friends. A lovely long lazy chatty lunch at Bill’s on Brewer Street was next on the agenda – which was rather busy and a bit chaotic at times, but the food was good, and it is great catching up with people I don’t see very often.
Before heading back to Euston Meg and I had some time to kill and so we went to the National Portrait Gallery, we spent about 45 minutes in there – and still managed to see quite a lot. The literary theme continued there with portraits of Iris Murdoch, Doris Lessing, Seamus Heaney and photographs of Edna O’Brien, Beryl Bainbridge and Nadine Gordimer among others.
A truly lovely day, with laughs and treats a plenty, I realise now, I really needed it!
heavenali 
That is just the kind of day I absolutely love. I had a similar one in Dundee with my student daughter last weekend – even thought the weather was dire, we did two galleries (McManus and Dundee Contemporary Arts), a wonderful cafe called Simpsons, and some charity shops – I always enjoy charity shopping in a new place, as sometimes, even in Edinburgh (whose charity shops I adore) the same stock seems to be on permanent rotation between all of them. Days out are so much fun, especially if you are with the right person.
Thank you, yes it was a lovely day. I probably spent more than I should have but that’s why it was a treat. I haven’t ever been to Dundee though I have visited Edinburgh twice, such a stunningly beautiful city, I must arrange a return trip one day.
What a lovely day Ali! I’ve not been to Second Shelf, I’ll have to pop in.
Oh yes do! I think you will find lots to love.
I’ve not come across Second Shelf but will make sure I find my way to it next time I’m in that part of London. It looks like a labour of love from your photos!
It’s only been open since late November. I believe it has been a real labour of love for the owner.
Yay – that Colette (the two novellas together) is one of my favourite books. Dripping with nostalgia, but so lyrical, so beautiful! Ah, I have to make my way to that bookshop soon… Enjoy your reading!
I have decided to read the Colette next, I love childhood memoirs and I am very overdue some Colette reading.
Really looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
Sounds like the perfect day Ali – so glad you got to Second Shelf, and I really must visit when I’m next in London. The Colette is a lovely edition – I could happily spend a month re-reading her! All of your books are lovely finds. I’ll have to make sure I visit at a time when I have a little willpwower left…
It was such a lovely day. The Second Shelf is such a lovely little shop, I do hope you visit soon.
The Second Shelf is new to me. I’m not travelling for health reasons at the moment but when I can then a visit is definitely on the cards.
I understand you not being able to get to London just now. I hope your health improves soon. Take care.
This sounds an ideal day. I usually dive into the National Portrait Gallery if in that part of London – and make straight for the literary ladies! I’m not sure if I will ever get in Second Shelf, but I will look up the ordering possibilities!
The portrait gallery is wonderful, though I wish it had fewer stairs. The Second Shelf will have an online shop set up eventually, though if you were to see things on their Instagram Twitter or FB feeds that you like the look of you can message them. I have bought a couple of things that way.
The bookstore is SO appealing. It looks like someone’s house – someone who has a lot of books. Your day sounds just perfect.
It is appealing, and has been put together by someone who clearly loves books.
What a lovely hidden gem of a bookstore! Thanks for sharing and I hope you enjoy your new treasures!
Hidden gem is exactly right. I ‘m sure I will enjoy them all for many years.
That looks so lovely! I have A Game of Hide and Seek on my bookshelf right now waiting to be read.
You have a treat in store with A Game of Hide and Seek, I envy you, reading it for the first time.
What a lovely day out, and such treasures too! I’m so glad you managed to find some things of interest at The Second Shelf. It’s on my list of places to visit, but as most of my trips to London seem to fall on Mondays at the moment, I might have to find another opportunity to go in. That Elizabeth Taylor is gorgeous, a really lovely find.
Oh yes, they are closed on Mondays. I’m so happy with my pretty Elizabeth Taylor book I must say, and they have a couple of other lovely Elizabeth Taylor novels on the shelves too. I hope you find an opportunity to visit soon.
Lovely, and I will definitely visit next time I’m down. So pleased you had such a super day.
We did thank you. I’m sure you’ll enjoy visiting.
What a wonderful spot – I must try and check it out the next time I’m in London.
It’s such a pretty shop, and Smiths Court itself is very charming. It’s a really nice part of London.
‘Just lovely. Next time in London….this is a must place. Now…I really feel like a nice cup of tea.
I’m sure you would love it there Madeleine.
Sounds like a lovely day! I was in London in December and actually took a peek inside, I think it was the first week they opened. Sadly, nothing within my price range spoke to me, so I didn’t buy anything. I’d love to go back again sometime (especially now I’ve seen the Colette movie, I want to read all her works and her biography).
Perhaps you will find something next time. I really want to see the Colette film.
What fun! And the book shop sounds wonderful. We need one like that here. I find the books and authors you usually read and write about are very hard to find here!
You do indeed, I see can how some nearly forgotten British writers are harder to come by in Canada. It is frustrating when books are hard to come by.
The Persephone subscription is SO tempting. But I haven’t caved yet…
What a fabulous day! A visit to the bookstore always perks my mood up, and meeting friends over tea and meals is just lovely. And it seems to be such a cute bookshop. Here in Delhi, India, there are few bookstores that cater to a selective audience, but none of the genre you’re talking about. I usually come across such books when I visit the book fair.
A visit to bookshops does always cheer me up. 😊
I am so jealous of those of you who can get to bookstores like The Second Shelf and can buy such wonderful books by women writers. We have a fabulous bookshop up on the Peninsula, Bell’s Books, which features two stories of used books. The time I went there last I didn’t even make it past the first four rows of fiction books. I bought four wonderful books – three by May Sarton, one of my favorites, and another by Stephen Spender, a novel if you can believe it!
I follow your blog carefully because I have similar taste in books. Of course, I’ve added your latest acquisitions to my wish list. Please keep the wonderful reviews!
Thanks,
Karen
Thank you so much. Lovely to hear from you. I love big book shops like the one you describe, it’s so lovely to unearth treasures.
Thanks so much! Keep on posting these great reviews!!
I am so jealous of this trip! What a wonderful bookstore. I haven’t read A Game Of Hide and Seek, but I’ve now added it to my list of books to look for. I love Olivia Manning as well. If I am ever in London (I hope to go someday) I will want to have a day just like this.
I hope you make it to London, its a great city, though I am always happy to come home to my smaller more familiar city. I am lucky to be just an hour and a half’s train ride away from London, yet I probably only go down once or twice a year.
[…] very impressed by what I’d seen and heard about them (and Ali thought very highly of them on her visit!) We rolled up fairly early (we’re morning birds), wondering if they’d be open and even […]