June Highlights
News and events from Bristol Books this June
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The Coffin Path: Martin Rieser
“The Coffin Path is a book of poems and photographs that surge and pulse with life. Exquisitely crafted, the poems are tender, unflinching, great swirls of language that transport me into the magical lands of West Penwith, Cornwall. I felt my spirit swell when reading this book.” – Ayson Hallett
The poems in this volume, by poet and visual artist Martin Rieser, were mostly written about a remote valley to the far west of Cornwall, in the area of West Penwith. The poet meditates a landscape scarred by past industry and changing habitat, where the layers of history and geology are randomly strewn across its rugged topography and mortality is embodied in the megaliths, walls and rocks of its ancient landscape.
Available now: £10
Somerset Churches book crowdfunder
Bristol Books have partnered with Emlyn Mathias (University of Withywood) to produce a prototype of the Somerset Churches book by the late historian Anton Bantock MBE.
The book is a fascinating portrait of Somerset’s finest village churches, featuring over 200 of Anton’s superb line drawings and watercolours, created on visiting each village. Anton had a lifelong interest in unearthing the treasures in these churches and churchyards. This book celebrates these jewels that have dominated Somerset villages for centuries.
Find out how you can support this campaign to publish the book:
Two new Bristol indie bookshops
Bristol’s independent bookshop scene is booming with the opening of two new exciting bookshops in one month. Both are stockists of Bristol Books titles:
Shambles Bookshop (St Nicholas Market) opened in May by book-loving husband and wife team, Laurence and Anna Tuck. This beautiful little bookshop has a particular emphasis on supporting Bristol authors and independent publishers.
The BookCellar (Stokes Croft) is the new independent bookshop and reading room built around the pleasure of a good book and a good glass. Pairing thoughtfully curated books with locally-sourced wine and coffee, the BookCellar has dedicated rooms for book groups, author events, and literary evenings.
Independent Bookshop Week: Saturday 13 – Saturday 20 June
Celebrate Bristol's vibrant indie bookshop scene this Independent Bookshop Week and support one of Bristol’s amazing bookshops. Top-rated local spots including Heron Books, Bookhaus, Max Minerva’s, Gloucester Road Books and Storysmiths will be hosting special author events and exclusive book releases during this week.
PICTURE THIS… The Somerset ship and emigration to Canada
The Somerset was a ship operated by the Great Western Steamship Company based in Bristol in the 1870s and 1880s. Built in 1875, the Somerset was involved in the passage of many children out to Canada and America from the industrial schools of Bristol.
Image from Bristol's Pauper Children by Shirley Hodgson, the story of Victorian education in Bristol and emigration to Canada.