Blackwell's

Just received a package from my favorite bookshop in the world--Blackwell's of Oxford, founded in 1879. Receiving a package in the mail is not quite as good as being there, but it is the next best thing.

The Norrington Room (above) at Blackwell's is a bibliophile's dream. It contains three miles of shelving and is listed in The Guinness Book of World Records as the largest single room selling books. Blackwell's Broad Street shop in Oxford was originally only twelve feet square but quickly grew to incorporate the upstairs, cellar, and neighboring shops.

Blackwell's was a favorite haunt of C. S. Lewis. Many of the books from his library (now at the Wade Center, Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois) bear the neat little Blackwell's sticker on the inside front cover.

The sign in Blackwell's window from Christmastime a year ago says it all: "A book is a gift that lasts a lifetime." I doubt that e-books will ever give the same joy as the smell and feel of a book held in one's hands. Nor will online purchases ever replace the delight of shopping in a physical place like Blackwell's at 50 Broad Street, Oxford. I can hear and feel, at least in my memory, the creak of some of the floors and stairs in that lovely old building, even as I write. Ahhhhh.....

Comments

Anonymous said…

Will - I have only just found this post but on behalf of all Blackwellians can I say Thank You!

It is customers like you that allow us to carry on doing what we do. Next time you are over do come and say Hi, I'd love to give you a behind the scenes tour of the shop

All the best

Euan
Academic Manager
Blackwell's, Oxford

7:03 PM

Will Vaus said…

Dear Euan,

Thanks so much for your comment! However, I wish you had found me at the beginning of this month because I was just in Oxford from 5-9 November.

Ah well, I will take you up on the offer of that behind the scenes tour the next time I am in Oxford, most likely some time in 2013.

Blessings,
Will

7:46 PM

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