27 March
Took the train asap to Daunt Books in Hampstead. They had emailed that ‘unfortunately we haven’t sold a copy and if you don’t collect them they will be given to a charity shop’. That’s £180 worth of books! I could see no sign that the books had been taken out of their box. As for my promotion suggestion that George was a Hampstead writer, had been prominent in saving the Heath for future generations, left Well Walk in 1915 never to return… (This is an ‘independent bookshop’.)
1 April
At last an email from Stig: ‘I appreciate that Calderon was a pioneer reviewer on The Dump and a significant Edwardian literary figure, but I am afraid we cannot review your biography as its contribution to Hispanic studies is negligible.’
10 April
I wrote to Mr Ed Maggs, Modern Books specialist at Maggs Bros. Ltd, Bloomsbury, founded in 1853, regarding some Edwardian volumes. I have never had contact with him before. He emails: ‘I am a closet admirer of yours, having more than once stumbled across your blog as I skate around the netweb chasing down people on the margins, and have wondered at how well you have served Calderon and his many connections. Calderonia is a wonderful resource.’ I broke three ribs falling off my chair.
GPO string, c. 1975
13 April
A German bookshop bought a copy online but clicked ‘2nd Class UK postage £32.95 GBP’ instead of ‘Europe £38.65 GBP’. The difference can’t be retrieved, so we lost £5.70 on this copy. I sent the book grinding my teeth.
17 April
Some books are despatched in Jiffy bags, others in bubblewrap and brown paper, of which I have offcuts that I want to get rid of. Some customers get a brown paper parcel secured with the above string and sometimes even red sealing wax. Today the woman in the post office said to me appreciatively: ‘That’s real string!’ It is. Along with the sealing wax and a small wooden wall clock now ticking in our kitchen, it was rescued by my father, who worked on the Post Office when all these things were being thrown out.
The string is strong, natural, and has a kind of chaffy smell from another age. The wavy ellipse that remains of its ball intrigues me. However, whenever I contemplate this phenomenon as it lies on a pile of cardboard boxes in the front room, I can think of only one thing: ‘How long is it going to take me to sell all these books?’
SOME RESPONSES TO GEORGE CALDERON: EDWARDIAN GENIUS
‘The book is written with great assurance and the reader always feels in safe hands. I liked the idea of it being a story and I read it the same way I would read a novel.’ Harvey Pitcher, writer
‘It is a masterly synthesis of your own approach with scholarship and very judicious discussion of the evidence.’ Emeritus Professor Catherine Andreyev, historian
‘A monumental scholarly masterpiece that gives real insight into how the Edwardians viewed the world.’ Arch Tait, Translator of Natalya Rzhevskaya’s Memoirs of a Wartime Interpreter
‘This comprehensive, meticulously researched and highly readable biography, which the author describes as a “story” rather than an academic biography…’ Michael Pursglove, East-West Review
‘It is bound to remain the definitive account.’ Laurence Senelick, Fletcher Professor of Drama, Tufts University
‘Presents the Edwardian age, and Calderon in particular, as new and forward-looking.‘ Emeritus Professor Michael Alexander, in Trinity College, Oxford, Report 2017-18
A review by DAMIAN GRANT appears in the comments to Calderonia’s 7 September post.
A review by JOHN DEWEY appears on Amazon UK.
I aways used Amazon-style cardboard book wraps when sending my books by post. These are available (surprise, surprise!) from Amazon, and purchased in packs of 25 or 50 are not too expensive if you shop around from different dealers (making sure to order the correct size for your book). They are sturdy and, with a computer-printed address label, lend a note of professionalism. Of course, you may have a supply of used Jiffy bags you want to use up. (End of advertising spiel!) On the other hand, I and I’m sure many other booklovers would find the idea of receiving a brown paper parcel lovingly secured with vintage string and sealing wax most appealing, reminiscent of those little specialist dealers such as Thornton’s.
As for cheeky (or stupid) purchasers clicking on the wrong postage, I was always quite ruthless, refunding their payment and asking them to reorder at the correct price.