February Highlights
News, events and new titles from Bristol Books this February
News, events and new titles from Bristol Books this February
TV wildlife stars praise buzzard book
For over 40 years Robin Prytherch headed out in rain or shine to chronicle the lives of buzzards in the woods and fields close to Bristol.
The book Robin Prytherch: A Life with Buzzards, compiled and edited by Lyndon Roberts is a celebration of his life and centres on buzzard-themed Christmas cards that Robin created each year. It has proved a huge hit with TV wildlife presenters.
Iolo Williams, who has been presenting Winterwatch on the BBC said: “A cracker of a book by the doyen of buzzard watchers. Robin’s words and sketches ooze from every page.”
Chris Packham picked up a copy when he was in Bristol recently at the Clifton Literary Festival.
Sir David Attenborough also treasures his copy saying: “I am truly grateful to have this reminder of such an extraordinary and unforgettable man.”
Bristol’s role in IVF
The film Joy: The Birth of IVF has proved a huge success telling the story of how the fertility breakthrough was made by pioneering scientists and doctors in Cambridge and Oldham.
But it was Bristol couple Lesley and John Brown, who were the parents of Louise Brown, the first baby born through the technique.
Those inspired by the movie starring Bill Nighy, Thomasin Mackenzie and James Norton can learn all about the Bristol connections in Louise Brown’s biography, published by Bristol Books.
We have first edition hardbacks of My Life as the First Test Tube Baby and an updated softback 40 Years of IVF available for anyone who wants to know more about the story and what happened to the baby born at the end of the film as she grew up.
Dementia Hub for Bristol
Tony Hall, whose book A Bucketful of Patience about living with dementia was published by Bristol Books, has plans to open a dementia hub in the city.
Tony’s book tells of the 20 years caring for his wife, Barbara, and he now plans to open a hub in Lawrence Weston to help other families with a range of services including legal and medical advice.
Tony said: “We want people to go along for help, whether they need social services, or they need to speak to a legal person about the power of attorney.”
Tony set up the Bristol Dementia Action Alliance (BDAA) in 2013 after his wife died. The Alliance runs four regular Happy Days Memory Cafes in Westbury-on-Trym, Shirehampton, Avonmouth and Sea Mills where people with dementia can meet for a drink and organised activities.
A Bucketful of Patience will resonate with anyone whose life has been touched by dementia.
January Highlights
News, events and new titles from Bristol Books this January
News, events and new titles from Bristol Books this January
Retreat into a good book this January
January is a great time of year to retreat into a good book. A good place to start is Manson’s Bristol Miscellany Volume 1 and Volume 2, where Michael Manson takes you on a search to find the soul of the city. It may even inspire you to embark upon your own voyage of discovery within the city.
Bristol Books also have a wide range of biographies, including Louise Brown’s, the scientific miracle and subject of the top Netflix film "Joy”, the original Wurzel’s frontman Adge Cutler, and Harry Dolman, the millionaire inventor who became ‘Mr Bristol City’.
For fans of historical fiction we also have Maid of the Haystack, an 18th Century dramatised true story of European royalty living in a haystack near Bristol.
Veganuary offer
To celebrate Veganuary this month we are offering a 10% discount on our recently published Vegan Bristol book.
Vegan Bristol is a guide to the most tantalising spots to discover amazing vegan food in Bristol, featuring the best vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants, cafés, pubs and pop-ups.
Explore your local bookshop
January is a good time to explore your local independent bookshop and perhaps spend those book tokens you may have received at Christmas. Bookshops are the perfect sanctuary this time of year and Bristol has so many great places to choose from.
Why not pop into one of the following: Heron Books, Clifton Arcade; Bookhaus, Rope Walk; RWA shop, Queen's Road Max; Minerva in Henleaze; Born In Bristol, St George; Gloucester Road Books, Bishopston; We Make Bristol, Canford Lane; John Wesley's New Room, Broadmead; Stanfords Corn Street. You can also find a good range of factual books at M Shed, Bristol Museum and SS Great Britain. National Trust shop at Tyntesfield, near Bristol also now stock a good selection of Bristol Books.
December Highlights
News, events and new titles from Bristol Books this December
News, events and new titles from Bristol Books this December
The Bristol Ideas Book of Walks
Follow in the footsteps of the Romantic poets and Brunel. Learn about Bristol’s council housing, commerce and public life. Discover the myths people tell about the city. Experience arts, music history and nature. And see how different the city might have looked if some projects had gone ahead. This book brings together a series of walks created and commissioned by Bristol Ideas to help you explore this unique city. Edited by Andrew Kelly and featuring walks from Robin Askew, Eugene Byrne, Melanie Kelly and Amy O’Beirne.
Price: £14
Doris Pliosaur
Bristol Books have published Bristol Museum & Art Gallery's new children’s book 'Is that Doris?'. The colour picture book based on the pliosaur fossil in the museum’s collections has been beautifully illustrated by Tilia Rand-Bell. Copies of the book are now available to purchase from the museum shop.
Bristol Books and Tangent Books
Our online shop is stocked with a wide range of Bristol-themed books this Christmas, including books from Bristol Books and Tangent Books. Buy a local book this Christmas!
Chris Packham receives A Life with Buzzards
Bristol Books were delighted when Chris Packham – the keynote speaker at the Clifton LitFest this November – received a copy of Robin Prytherch's book, A Life with Buzzards.
Louise Brown with Thomasin McKenzie who plays Jean Purdy in the film “Joy”, appeared on BBC's The One Show together.
Joy to the world
The top Netflix film "Joy", which follows the three pioneering British scientists in the 60s and 70s and their struggle to develop IVF has been among the most watched this month.
Culminating in the birth of Louise Brown, who grew up and lives in Bristol, it centres around Jean Purdy, the world's first embryologist as she worked with Robert Edwards and Patrick Steptoe top help people have babies.
At 11.47 pm on July 25, 1978, they achieved their goal when Louise Brown was born. As the first person to be conceived this way it made Louise instantly world famous.
You can read about her parents and the story of her life as a world first in her biography. We have some hardback first editions left and the paperback "Louise Brown, 40 Years of IVF". Both book contain photographs of Louise's remarkable story.
Bristol 100 years in Music & Film
Bristol Books were proud to sponsor and produce the souvenir programme for Bristol 100 years in music and film at Bristol Beacon this December 1.
The event celebrated the centenary of Bristol Archives with over 90 young musicians from Bristol Youth Orchestra accompanying remarkable archive cine footage of Bristol.
Film makers David Parker and Bob Pitt worked with Bristol Archives to select around 100 minutes of film which was projected on a massive screen while the orchestra, conducted by Tim Harrison, performed music from Holst, Vaughan Williams, and Florence Price. Bristol pianist Sandie Middleton also premiered a new composition, specially written for the concert.
November Highlights
News, events and new titles from Bristol Books this November
News, events and new titles from Bristol Books this November
Buy a local book this Christmas
Bristol Books is joining forces with Tangent Books in the run-up to Christmas to bring you the widest selection of Bristol-themed books available from our shop.
We now have best-selling titles from Tangent Books on our website and will also be distributing both publishers titles to local independent bookshops.
If you are looking for a special local gift for a Bristol enthusiast this Christmas then take a look at our online shop.
Discover Vegan Bristol this World Vegan Day
Friday 1st November is World Vegan Day and Bristol boasts an extensive vegan food scene that you can find out more about in our mouth-watering book Vegan Bristol.
It is a guide to the most tantalising spots to discover vegan food in Bristol. Covering a range of cuisines and cultures – from restaurants and cafés to pubs and pop-ups – this guide is the sure-fire way to find your next delicious plant-based meal in the South West’s cultural capital, regardless of your budget and desires.
There are more than 40 locations to choose from and all have been carefully researched and chosen for their quality and atmosphere.
Bristol 100 years in Music & Film
Bristol Beacon, Sunday 1st December, 7pm
A unique evening celebrating the history of Bristol on film accompanied by a full live orchestra will take place at Bristol Beacon on December 1.
“Bristol - 100 years in music and film” will celebrate the centenary of Bristol Archives with 100 young musicians from Bristol Youth Orchestra accompanying the remarkable cine footage of Bristol at work and play, much of which has never been shown in public before.
The film will be projected on a massive screen at Bristol Beacon while the orchestra, conducted by Tim Harrison, performs music from Holst, Vaughan Williams, and Florence Price. Bristol pianist Sandie Middleton will also premiere a new composition, specially written for the concert, during a section showing bomb-ravaged Bristol in the Second World War.
Film makers David Parker and Bob Pitt worked with Bristol Archives to select around 100 minutes of film from the collection stored at B Bond Warehouse, which was the first borough archive in the country when it was formed in 1924.
Clifton Village LitFest
Friday 15th November - Sunday 17th November
Bristol Books director and author Clive Burlton will be among a glittering line-up of speakers at this year’s Clifton Village LitFest.
The festival boasts big names such as Chris Packham, Carol Vorderman and Jonathan Dimbleby in an amazing weekend of talks, workshops, poetry and lively discussion. You can see the full line-up here.
Clive will be speaking in the Crypt of Christ Church at 10 am on Saturday November 16 and the subject is the story of the modern Matthew. Built to commemorate the 500th anniversary of John Cabot's medieval voyage the modern Matthew can be seen every day in Bristol’s historic harbour. The talk includes a 30-minute film about how the modern Matthew was built.
Steve’s story
The story of Steve Stacey, the Bristol-born son of an American GI, who became the first footballer of African-American descent to play professionally in the English football league, has excited interest during black history month.
Bristol Books ensured his remarkable story has been captured by publishing his story in his own words in The Colour of Football.
Steve started out playing in the gas-lit streets of post war Bristol and made it to the top flight. Along the way he played 119 games for Wrexham and that part of his career excited interest this month from the BBC. You can read their article here.
October Highlights
News, events and new titles from Bristol Books this October
News, events and new titles from Bristol Books this October
Award Nomination
Bristol Books has been shortlisted in the first ever South West Business of the Year Awards.
Winners will be announced at a glittering black-tie dinner in Bristol’s Harbour Hotel on November 14.
Bristol Books is one of six businesses shortlisted in the Community Impact category with the winner being selected by a panel of judges.
The mystery of Marie Antoinette’s sister
Did a half-sister of Marie Antoinette live in a haystack in Flax Bourton, near Bristol while the Queen of France was sweeping through the mirrored halls of Versailles? The conspiracy theory about the illegitimate daughter of Emperor Francis I swept across Europe in the 18th Century.
In Maid of The Haystack author Martin J. Powell has captured the story of what Bristol was like in those times and how the scandal unfolded with philanthropist Hannah More playing a major part in the life of the “stranger” who arrived in Bristol and the stories that surrounded her. Written as an historical novel it brings to life the city and the rural areas of North Somerset while exploring the theories surrounding these true events.
October history talks
Bristol Books director, Clive Burlton will be doing a series of talks for local history and community groups in and around Bristol throughout October.
Audiences will hear about how Harry Dolman rose from rural roots to lead Bristol City FC; how the site of the Bristol International Exhibition of 1914 was transformed into a barracks for volunteer soldiers in WW1 and in two film screenings, how Bristol's emergency services operated during World War 2 and how Bristol's health services have run since 1948.
Talks include:
2nd Oct - 2.30pm - Downend Ladies Enterprise, Downend Baptist Church - Film screening - "70 years of the NHS in Bristol"
9th Oct - 7pm - Blagdon Local History Society - Film Screening - "The Citizens of Bristol at War"
15th Oct - 2.30pm - Bromley Heath Gardening Club - Film Screening - "The Citizens of Bristol at War"
22nd Oct - 10.30am - Clevedon Probus Club - Talk - "The Life and Times of Harry Dolman"
24th Oct - 10.30am - Nailsea Probus Club - Talk - "Bristol's Lost City"
28th Oct - 10.30am - Memories of Bedminster Group - Talk - "Bristol's Lost City"
Buzzards Flying off shelves
Our latest book Robin Prytherch: A Life With Buzzards has proved incredibly popular both locally and nationally, with bird enthusiasts loving the story of Robin and his observations of buzzards around the Bristol area. The hardback book, which features Robin’s drawings and fieldwork observations of the behaviour of buzzards is a unique insight into the birds' habits.
Television ornithologist Iolo Williams, a regular presenter on Springwatch said: “A cracker of a book by the doyen of buzzard watchers. Robin’s words and sketches ooze from every page.”