What is your most recent Persephone purchase? PART II

At 359 posts, I thought the old thread was a bit long!

I just placed an order this morning for:

The new Persephone 2011 diary
The Winds of Heaven by Monica Dickens
A London Child of the 1870s by Molly Hughes
The New House by Lettice Cooper

I remembered that I had a voucher for one free book, and intended to buy only the diary - but of course I couldn't stop there.

I ordered them yesterday and they arrived today! Hoorah for Persephone!

I got a gift certificate from a dear friend for my birthday, and ordered High Wages by Dorothy Whipple. Since it is going to be shipped surface mail, who knows when it is going to get here, but I am happy anyway.

I've just put out High Wages to start reading this evening. Mine's an old orange Penguin copy, though - possibly the only book format that I prefer to the dove-grey Persephone!

Oh yes, Helen! I would love an old orange Penguin too!!
I am watching - just for fun, really - a hardcover perhaps first edition of it on Ebay. The DJ is so pretty that I wish I could afford it.

Paola, I always get into trouble when I 'just watch things for fun' on ebay!

Heather, I used to, but this one is too expensive and so I have no choice but just watch...sigh...

I went to the shop and bought the new 3

The Winds of Heaven Monica Dickens
the Mrs Oliphant book
the diary

and 4 others

The World That Was Ours, Hilda Bernstein
Consequences, E M Delafield
Tell It to a Stranger, Elizabeth Berridge
The Victorian Chaise-Longue, Marghanita Laski

elkie, you are another terrible tease...."I went to the shop and bought...."

Wonderful package full of dovegray spines, Miss E, so good on ya!

The diary is absolutely gorgeous, but I think I'd prefer it if it were spiral-bound ... and perhaps a little smaller. Am I being too picky? ;)

I have an old orange Penguin edition of High Wages too! It was too tempting to resist (on ebay, where browsing is most definitely trouble).

I helped out at Persephone Books yesterday posting out the "foreigns" (Biannually to overseas readers). As a thank you the very generous Nicola Beauman kindly gave me the new titles, The Mystery of Mrs Blencarrow and The Winds of Heaven, and TWO copies of the Diary (one as a gift for someone).

I think the diary is a thing of beauty, Helen, and quite like that it is the same size and form as the books!

I'm so envious, Claire! Spending a day at Persephone *and* being given gifts! Lucky you!

I know I'm probably just being fussy about the diary. It is nice that it's in the same format as the books - I think it's just that I'm used to my Dodo diaries, so this feels funny.

And I'm getting bunnyb's gift!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not quite sure how I will use the diary, if at all - maybe as a reading log???

A reading log sounds good, but you will have to write very small given the amount of books you get through.

I'd been hoping for a yearbook, to record birthdays and anniversaries but I'm sure I could find a use for a diary instead.

I thought just the title each day? I also hoped it would be a yearbook - a bit more timeless. Nice to "see" you btw FF...

Hello! I've only recently been introduced to Persephone books after picking up two of them (Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day and Good Evening Mrs Craven) quite by chance from a second hand book stall. Of course, I'm now hooked, so I was very pleased to find a copy of William - an Englishman on ebay the other day. I'm now eagerly anticipating its arrival in the post.

#13 - verityjdo, a reading log is a great idea! Don't know why I didn't think of it, but I might steal your idea. :)

Looking forward to giving you the diary in person, Verity!

A reading log is a lovely idea but there would be too many blank days on mine!
I'll probably use it as a diary but will be sad not to be using my leather-bound filofax for a year...

I am organising a Persephone Secret Santa exchange through my blog this year for anyone interested:

http://www.paperback-reader.co.uk/2010/10/24/im-dreaming-of-a-grey-christmas/

Fantastic idea, Claire!

I am wondering if it would get me out of my current Babysitters Club reading phase as I would be too embarassed to write them down on each page...

I may use it for birthdays as suggested by Ms Fisher tho.

I'm thinking quotations now. And imagining a lovely row of dove grey diaries with lovely words from books read over the years ...

Ooh - that would be good - find one quote from each day's reading or each book read - I like it! I think the diary will be a one-off though - maybe not if its v popular.

Welcome Ygraine! Most of the members of this group are also on the Virago one so feel free to join us there as well. Did you get the classic editions or the greys?

Today a nice surprise in the mail, my copy of High Wages, which I ordered with a gift card a very very dear friend sent for my birthday. Thank you!!!!!!

High Wages is one of the few I don't own and am v. keen to reread!

Thanks for the welcome, romain. The two I picked up second hand are the classics and the one winging its way to me from ebay is a grey one. I'm looking forward to receiving it and getting stuck in to reading.

I've also just joined the Virago group after recently discovering those as well, courtesy of the same second hand book stall. I now have quite the stack of green books waiting to be read, and I've yet to find a duff one so it looks very promising.

I had great luck with my first Viragos and only found the duff ones about a year into it. But then what we like is so personal anyway that one woman's duff novel is someone else's favorite. I love the classics covers but lately have got tired of waiting for them and have bought about 10 greys second hand.

#27 - I see you are here, too. I just received my first Persephone today through PBS - Still Missing. I expect to be in emotional shreds before I'm through with it. I'd love to hear from whomever has read it here. I've read "Miss Pettigrew..." and have started my search for Persephones because of that book. I don't own it - I found it in a cruiseship's library last month. I'd love to own a copy and I'm wondering if anyone in this Group has an extra copy she'd like to sell me or trade for a Virago. -Mary

They Knew Mr. Knight arrived today. I think I now have all the D. Whipple novels Persephone has reprinted.

I bought Greenery Street at the weekend; I've been coveting it recently and on a visit to the shop I could no longer resist purchasing it. I'm undecided whether to pick it or The Home-Maker up next or leave them to indulge in over Christmas.

Definitely Greenery Street first!!

In today's post......The World That Was Ours. A gift received from my Persephone Secret Santa! Thank you Astrid!

Today I ordered through the website:

Alas, Poor Lady (I've been really into spinster lit lately)
A Very Great Profession and
Few Eggs and No Oranges (I was in the mood for nonfiction).

I visited the shop on Friday where I bought:

the Etty Hillesum one
Margaret Bonham, The Casino
Christine Longford, Making Conversation
Nicola Beauman, The Other Elizabeth Taylor

The Mystery of Mrs. Blencarrow arrived in my mailbox today!

I recently ordered Greenery Street and Miss Buncle's Book. Impatiently awaiting their arrival.

Recently purchased

A London Child of the 1870s
The Winds of Heaven
The Priory
Few Eggs and No Oranges

and then ordered

The Children who Lived in a Barn
The Crowded Street

My excuse: Taking advantage of the higher Aussie dollar :)

I just received Few Eggs and No Oranges, A Very Great Profession, Alas Poor Lady and The Mystery of Mrs. Blenclarrow in the mail!

I'd love to know what people think about Mrs Blencarrow. Miss Marjoribanks is one of my favourite books, but Mrs. Oliphant's other works seem rather uneven. I really can't cope with anything very depressing at the moment, and the description of Mrs. Blencarrow make it sound a bit ofa downer. Any opinions from people who've read it?

Yesterday I received Consequences in the mail!

Greenery Street arrived the other day. I now have an entire bin full of Persephones.

41: Lucky you! I'm reading my way through mine way to fast...

Flush: A Biography arrived here today!

My splendid friend returned from England with Two Persephone's for me Princes in the Land and They Were Sisters what a good friend and what a good surprise!

After a long, cold, rainy day here in Philadelphia, I came home to a welcome surprise: The Winds of Heaven in my mailbox!

Sack of Bath just arrived for me!

I got my Sack of Bath yesterday!

I went a little crazy this month and bought Hostages to Fortune, Doreen, How to Run Your Home Without Help, The Runaway and The Village. Should keep me occupied for a while!! :)

Just finished Making of a Marchioness. It had quite a bit more depth than I was expecting, however, was anyone else disappointed in the ending?

I picked up a pristine copy of Greenery Street, complete with bookmark, postcard and a newspaper cutting about the shop for the grand sum of four pounds. My walk between work and the station takes me along Charing Cross Road past the bookshops and clearly sometimes it pays off!

Oooh, lucky you - which shop did you find it in?

I went to the shop just before Easter to get the Diana Athill short stories, Midsummer Night in the Workhouse and Miss Buncle Married - I read the latter from the library in a large print edition last year and it's not as good as the first but I still need to own it. My third book (3 for £27) was They Were Sisters by Dorothy Whipple.

The Closed Door and Other Stories arrived today!

Midsummer Night in the Workhouse came today!

This isn't a Persephone (yet) but I did just get The Two Mrs. Abbotts by D.E. Stevenson in the post today (from BookMooch). It's another book featuring Miss Buncle!

53 - Mine came yesterday Helen.

My first ever Persephone purchase: Flush : A biography - last week at the Persephone Bookshop, during an LT meet-up.

56: I'm reading Flush right now! It's quite good.

#57 Cross posted on the "What are you reading" thread!

Actually, I did not purchase it.
Today, when I came home from work, I found a package waiting for me. It came from a dear friend in England and, when I opened it, I found a wonderful copy of William-an Englishman (touchstone does not seem to work) by Cicely Hamilton, complete with bookmark.

Midsummer Night in the Workhouse and Miss Buncle Married arrived today! The perfect end to a busy week and I'm in the mood for a good read.

And then They Knew Mr. Knight arrived in my mailbox today, as part of my year-long Persephone subscription.

Oh, I wish I had a year long subscription, but I have only 2 titles left to collect...

I'm rather jealous of both of you!

I received A House in the Country today!

I recently ordered Tea with Mr. Rochester from The Book Depository, so I hope it will arrive soon!

To Bed With Grand Music arrived here this afternoon.

Kasthu-Hope you enjoyed - They Knew Mr. Knight. Recently saw the film at a Persephone lunch and thought it was very true to the book.

The Fortnight in September arrived today as part of my subscription, plus I was in the shop twice while I was on vacation in London and came away with:

Bricks and Mortar
Etty Hillesum: An Interrupted Life
The Blank Wall
Reuben Sachs
Greenery Street
Farewell Leicester Square
Doreen
Round About a Pound a Week
The Children Who Lived In a Barn

Fabulous, Kasthsu! I was in London last weekend, but it was a very short visit and the people I was seeing were not Persephone People so, alas, I didn't go to the shop.

I found a lovely used copy of The Children Who Lived in a Barn yesterday. Quite a find. I have never seen a Persephone book at a used book store.

You're right, Maren - Persephones rarely turn up in second hand shops! Well done!

That is strange as one of my colleagues found a pristine copy of that same book in a charity shop last week!

Hmm, I started it and it seems like a pretty good book thus far, not the kind of book that one would trade in.

71 I walked around the store clutching the book until I checked out.

Well, these are not *my* purchases, but Christmas Day has increased my Persephone collection via the kindness of my friends. And you know what's great? Even though I picked most of these myself on my trip to The Shop in September, I managed to forget which ones were coming to me in the interim!

Anyway, I am now the proud possessor of ...

The Children Who Lived In A Barn
Hostages to Fortune
Making Conversation
To Bed With Grand Music
It's Hard To Be Hip Over Thirty - this one was a surprise, but I've bought it for several other people over the years and have always fancied it ...

So: lucky me! I know at least someone else who had some Persephones for Christmas ...

.....meeeeeeeeee!! ; )

yes I got:

Miss Buncle Married by D. E Stevenson
Family Roundabout by Richmal Crompton
The Closed Door and other stories by Dorothy Whipple

So lovely to have some Persephones to look forward to. I now have 43! soft dove grey spines.

I chose you some good ones at the shop, didn't I, although I'm a bit annoyed I got Mr LB to save my Miss Buncle Married for my birthday!

Something to look forward to in less than a months time : )

Miss Buncle Married is definitely one I want!

The Shuttle has apparently finished reprinting, because a copy of it (left over from last year;s subscription) landed in my mailbox this afternoon!

I just received The Shuttle, Greenbanks, and Miss Buncle's Book in the mail yesterday. I am absolutely thrilled, and only partially because I just doubled my Persephone hoard in one go.

I should be getting a copy of Greenbanks soon. I have had a small operation and am off work for a week. My sister said she wanted to buy me a Persphone book instead of flowers as a get well treat. (I have had loads of flowers) so I chose Greenbanks : ) hooray for sisters!

I hope you're OK, Ali! I agree - a book is much better than flowers. xxxx

Feel better soon Ali - lovely to have a book rather than more flowers!

I'm keeping an eye on Ms Alison for us all - we had a lovely catch-up on Sunday and of course I loaded her with books ...

Hee hee! It came today wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!! as if I haven't got enough books and it will probably be ages till I read it - but it is no lovely to have it.

oh no it's me postin on this thread again!! I bought Miss Buncle Married for my Mum's bday and ordered The New House by Lettice Cooper and Manja by Anna Gmeyner for me : )

Great joy! The Classics version of Winifred Watson's Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day for £2.49 in the Oxfam charity shop! Didn't think many people would part with a Persephone. Also just bought new Isobel English's Every Eye - which to read first???

Miss Pettigrew is lovely - light and fluffy but a real joy. Think it may have been my first Persephone.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is one of my favorites! It seems to be a lot of people's "starter Persephones;" it was mine, too.

Greenbanks arrived today in the mail. Yay!

Ooh I have that TBR too - like having it to look forward to : )

In the end I read Every Eye first and loved it! But if I wasn't so deeply embroiled in Elizabeth Taylor I would be starting Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day!

Was lucky enogh to find A House in the Country second hand but in perfect nick together with bookmark - sounds fascinating from the reviews.

squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!! so excited - we have a sort of bday club at work - not the whole place just my immediate team - and knowing I'd get a card with cash in - and knowing approx how much it woud be I ordered:
House-bound
The world that was ours
and
Harriet and they came today - so now have 6 lovely Persephone TBR -

as if that wasn't enough - today I recieved a Persephone voucher - for 3 more. I may as well get them ordered so I can look at them. Still choosing - but I think I will choose at least one of the volumes of short stories.

So, with it being hot and summery and everything this week, OH, Youngest Child and I went to Felixstowe for the afternoon, which involved a visit to my favourite second hand bookshop. And yes - there were a few Persephone purchases! I've posted about it here:

http://kaggsysbookishramblings.wordpress.com/2012/07/27/a-visit-to-the-seaside-a...

mainly because I don't know how to put pix on here and also it would be an awfully long post.

The problem now is what one to read next!

I double clicked on the photo and could read the Persephone titles. I own all but the Lady Rose one but am nevertheless jealous that you could find so many in one place! I LOVED Fidelity but only you can decide what mood you are in, and for what.

I think it was rather unusual to find so many together! Tell It To A Stranger is calling at the moment as I haven't read any short stories for a while.

I liked some of the stories in Tell It to a Stranger very much.

Just came across a grey version of Miss Pettigrew in the local Oxfam book shop - of course it had to come home with me to sit next to my classic version on the shelf (and it was a bargain at £2.49 in perfect nick!)

I just did order:
William - an Englishman,
Greenbanks,
Patience,
The Persephone Book of Short Stories,
Fidelity, and
A House in the Country.

I borrowed A House in the Country from the library - and didn't want to give it back! It's *very* good!

Yea!~!~! I am happy to 'hear' that.

Great choices Belva, I have Paitence on my Christmas wish list I sent to my family, the only other one of your list I don't have or haven't read is the book of short stories, which I won't be getting as it contains stories from other collections that I do have or intend to get. The others are all glorious.

I spotted a copy of that somewhere in SF but I wanted to wait till after the Virago Secret Santa, just in case. I'm off to grab it tomorrow!

I sent off for a great number of Persephone a couple of weeks ago and they arrived the day we were leaving to come to Houston, Christmas Eve. So the packages are all in a stack on my computer chair at home and I am sure that after watching my grandson's Invitational American Bowl Game, I will be anxiously awaiting our return flight home on New Year's Day in order to open and catalogue them. Excited!

I put the copy of A House In the Country on hold but when i went back, it had vanished. :(

Also, I ordered Patience, read a less-than-enthusiastic review, and cancelled my order. :(

But i did a score a non-Persephone Richmal Crompton, Frost At Morning.

My stash of Persephone that arrived on Christmas Eve (but have just now opened) include:
Greenbanks,
William-an Englishman,
Fidelity,
Patience,
A House in the Country,
The Persephone Book of Short Stories,
The Winds of Heaven,
Family Roundabout,
The Runaway,
Reuben Sachs,
They Knew Mr. Knight,
Brook Evans,
The Far Cry,
Marjory Fleming,
Miss Buncle's Book and
Miss Buncle Married. More is on the way. DH is not going to be thrilled (**wink, wink**) when he sees the Visa bill. But I figure if he can spend $2400.00 on a camera lense and $1400.00 on an I-Pad & accessories, then he really shouldn't mind me feeding my soul. Right?
hugs,

Wow! That's an incredible selection there (several of which I have or have read). Couldn't agree with you more - books are far more fun than gadgets and usually a fraction of the price!

Happy reading! (Which one will you tackle first?)

I think that in February I will read William-an Englishman. I have heard such good things about this one and it is the first numbered Persephone.

I haven't read that one yet - but I believe it is highly rated. Heavenali has done a nice review here (for when you have read it!):

http://heavenali.wordpress.com/2012/12/08/william-an-englishman-cicely-hamilton-...

I just snagged a hardback of Family Roundabout on abe.com. Can't wait for it to arrive!

I just received a copy of The Persephone Book of Short Stories in the mail via my monthly subscription. I'm trying to read more short stories this year and this one should help fit the bill!

While in London last week I bought:

The Exiles return
The woman novelist and other stories
and
An interrupted life: the diaries and letters of Etty Hillesum

Oh, yes, and I bought Fidelity and two others that are gifts ...

Arghhhhhhhh!~! Packing for the U.K.

My two most recent arrivals are Hostages to Fortune and No Surrender; sill waiting for my copies of The Exiles Return and Farewell to Leicester Square.

A fab find in the Oxfam charity shop yesterday - Little Boy Lost by Marghanita Laski which apparently is highly recommended!

Last week a friend gave me It's Hard to be Hip Over Thirty and A House in the Country!

118: I've read both of those and loved them - what a lovely friend you have!

They were duplicates that someone had given her and I was more than happy to take them off her hands!

The Home-Maker, The Montana Stories & the freebie from Persephone, The Fortnight in September.

I received The Children Who Lived in a Barn from my sister for my birthday recently. Used copy in good condition though missing bookmark sadly.

That's my only Persephone without a bookmark, too, Genny, also secondhand. I'm sure I read - here or elsewhere? - that one can buy replacement bookmarks, or did I imagine it?

#123 Have you read it yet? It looks fun. If anyone knows about replacement bookmarks, do say (not that I have any shortage of bookmarks...).

#124 No, but it's on my TBR pile!

Yes, you can buy the bookmarks in the shop, so I'm guessing they do mail order, too. Or you could get whoever is next going to the shop to get and post, of course ...

Coming to this late but I give Elaine money and she buys me my missing bookmarks when she goes to London (from Chicago). They are 50p I think and they will mail them to you direct.

That's good to know because I do have some that are missing their bookmarks! Thanks!

When I last went to the shop I bought a couple of bookmarks I was missing, due to the fact I also bought 4 books (3 for me and a gift for a friend) I can't remember how much they were but they aren't dear.

Thanks bunnyb, I am really looking forward to receiving it one day soon. annejacinta in land of Oz

Hello Ygraine
I have just joined both groups too! Barbara Pym led metro librarything , that's how I joined up.
annejacinta in Oz

I've just got my Biannual and I see they are going to publish Diary of a Provincial Lady with all the original illustrations. I shall have to get it - just to compare it with the other six versions I have...

The bookmarks are 50p each if you buy them separately. Next time I go, I should remember to take orders for bookmarks, maybe when they publish the new books in the spring or if someone is coming to London for a raid on the Persephone shop - maybe we should have an April/May meetup to include a visit there?

I just bought a copy of It's Hard to be Hip over 30 for a friend who had a double hip replacement last week, and took advantage of that to buy myself Harriet and Heat Lightning.

I just received my very first Persephone. I took advantage of the special price for The Diary of a Provincial Lady by E. M. Delafield. Oh dear, I am in trouble!

Found an immaculate Persephone, complete with bookmark in a charity shop yesterday: Bricks and Mortar.

Well done Kerry! Look forward to hearing what you think of it!

I have just ordered Greenery Street because I am having a Mackail family thing at present. Have been reading Angela Thirkell and biographies , her brother Denis Mackail wrote too, they seemed to run parallel lives, writing a book a year for 30 years or so.

Found Mariana by Monica Dickens in a charity shop, and it is in beautiful condition too!

138: I have Greenery Streeet and can't wait to read it actually! It does sound lovely and it's a shame not many of his books are in print.

139: Well done!

I was in London a few weeks ago and snagged used copies of They Were Sisters and Hostages to Fortune. I felt so thrifty that I splurged and bought a new copy of Consequences.

Greenbanks arrived today. I'm reading Whipple's novels chronologically, so now I can move forward.