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Look what I found! Virginia Woolf’s ‘A Writer’s Diary’

Virginia Woolf A Writer's Diary

… Fourth Impression (1965) with a foreword by Leonard Woolf. Hogarth Press! Original dust jacket bearing Vanessa Bell’s design!

I found it at Much Ado Books in Alfriston, well worth a visit if you’re ever in the area. It’s housed in a range of quirky buildings set back off the road in its own front garden. I did find the plethora of notices rather off-putting  (a number of which suggest one is guilty until proven innocent – PLEASE LEAVE LARGE BAGS AT THE COUNTER BEFORE GOING UPSTAIRS, PLEASE RESPECT OUR GARDEN etc) but I can only suppose this quiet, well-do-do village must have its fair share of book shop-lifters and vandals. What a shame.

much ado books alfriston

Anyway, I look forward to sharing extracts and thoughts on Woolf’s reading and writing process with you here from time to time.

Published inBlogBooksInspirationWriting

6 Comments

  1. Lucky you, Robin! It’s a gem of a book shop. They have lovely hens too. Cx

    • Robin Houghton Robin Houghton

      Yes, I couldn’t see the hens in the coop, perhaps they were out in the garden somewhere…

  2. Peter Raynard Peter Raynard

    Serendipity is sitting in the doctors waiting room reading Wolf’s said diary, then checking my email and reading your email

    • Robin Houghton Robin Houghton

      That’s a truly amazing coincidence, Peter! Hope you’re enjoying it. I’m finding it a cracking read so far, very insightful and reassuring in many ways. I’ve never found her writing very accessible but I really like her candour in this diary.

  3. Judith Shaw Judith Shaw

    I love that bookshop, Robin. I once went when they had a huge number of second hand poetry books from clearing out someone’s house – such richness!

    • Robin Houghton Robin Houghton

      Hi Judith, yes it’s a one-off isn’t it? I once had a similar experience at Eastbourne library where the little shop had a whole shelf of poetry books clearly donated by someone (some were signed… I think I recognised the former owner from the dedications!!)

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Robin Houghton 2021