The Book Collector - Official Podcasts

This article appears as the 16th installation of our 'Portrait of a Bibliophile' series in The Book Collector's Summer 1972 issue. It was written by James S. Dearden and covers the life and collections of John Ruskin.

It is read by Lavinia Sidgwick.

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Portrait Of A Bibliophile XVI: John Ruskin 1819-1900 by James S. Dearden

First published in The Book Collector's special Issue for Ian Fleming in Spring 1917, Jon Gilbert writes of his experience collecting the works of Ian Fleming, and creating the world-renowned bibliography.

It is read by James Fleming

The new book, 'Bond Behind the Iron Curtain', by James Fleming is now available to purchase from www.thebookcollector.co.uk

Collecting Ian Fleming, by Jon Gilbert

An open letter from Nicolas Barker, former editor of The Book Collector, from our issue for Spring 1978.

An Open Letter by Nicolas Barker

The first in this new podcast series (12 episodes in total) recounts the life of Fred Bason, a cockney bookseller, as he embarks on a new career in 1920s South London. 

It is read by Clive Farahar, a prominent rare bookseller himself, who brings Fred to life with all his wit, charm and charisma. 

This podcast is sponsored by Adrian Harrington Rare Books of Tunbridge Wells

Fred Bason's Diary - Episode 1

The Memoir of Emil Offenbacher, a German Jewish bookseller working in France in the 1930s, recounting his experiences during World War Two. 
The memoir was first published in the Spring 2022 Issue of the Book Collector, and is read in the podcast by James Fleming.
The Introduction was written by Emil's children, Florence and Claude Offenbacher, and is read by Virginia Ferguson.

Emil Offenbacher: A Memoir. Introduction by Florence Offenbacher Keller and Claude Offenbacher

Our Podcast this week is an unusual one for The Book Collector, in that it is a piece of fiction. Written by Alan Noel Latimer Mumby for our Spring Issue in 1958, The Comte De Marnay is a short story about a passionate book collector and the lengths to which he goes to protect his treasures. It is an immersive tale, told by the former Librarian of Kings College, Cambridge, and delightfully read by Virginia Ferguson.

'The Comte De Marnay' A Short Story by A N L Munby

A Personal Chapter was written by Percy H Muir for The Book Handbook in 1951.
It is read by James Fleming, editor of The Book Collector.

A Personal Chapter by Percy Muir

Part Two of the JSS Series - Appearing in The Book Collector's Winter 2011 Issue, John Saumarez Smith writes of his experiences buying ready-made libraries for the wealthy Anglo-American clients of Hayward Hill. It is read by Neil Pearson.

Creating a Library, by John Saumarez Smith

From an article in The Book Collector's Summer issue in 2009 comes the latest in our 'JSS' series of podcasts, read by Neil Pearson. 

John Saumarez Smith fondly remembers some of the reps and travellers who sold books to Hayward Hill during his time as a book dealer.

Salesmen To The Last Literary Salon, by John Saumarez Smith

When global temperatures soared to a record high in 2021, the Doomsday Clock ticked to 100 seconds to midnight, the closest the Earth has been to total destruction in the 75 years since the clock started ticking. This inspired the title of Peter Harrington's catalogue on Climate Change, created by Emma Walshe, who wrote this article for The Book Collector's Autumn Issue in 2022.
It is read by Sarah Bennett

100 Seconds to Midnight - The Origin of a Catalogue on Climate Change by Emma Walshe

Part of our 'JSS' series of articles written by The Book Collector by John Saumarez Smith. This article appeared in our Autumn 2011 Issue, and looks back at the shop's 50th and 60th anniversaries in the year it celebrated it's 75th. He includes an account of the creation of the special catalogue created in 1996, dedicated entirely to books written by Haywood Hill customers.
It is read by Neil Pearson

Heywood Hill's Birthdays, by John Saumarez Smith

Part of our 'JSS' series as Neil Pearson reads 'Is This Mr Gulbenkian?' from the Winter 2015 Issue, and a special copy of 'Poor Poems and Rotten Rhymes' by A. P. Herbert.

Is this Mr Gulbenkian? by John Saumarez Smith

The latest in the JSS series from The Book Collector, this time read by James Fleming. John recalls the destruction of two country house libraries - Dropmore and Hampden in 1939 - in this article from The Book Collector's Spring 2009 issue.

The Destruction of the Country House Library, by John Saumarez Smith

The first article written by John Saumarez Smith for The Book Collector, from our Spring 2008 issue, looking at the library sales of some great collectors.

Tools of Execution, by John Saumarez Smith

Written by John Saumarez Smith for The Book Collector's Autumn 2009 issue. Read by James Fleming.

Visit www.thebookcollector.co.uk for more information about our quarterly journals and how to subscribe.

Anthony Trollope and the Man from Wall Street, by John Saumarez Smith

This article was published in The Book Collector's Summer 2023 issue. 

Written and read by Philip Gooden, it takes a look at some great works of Spy Fiction, the authors, characters and storylines that followed in the footsteps of Ian Fleming and James Bond.

Shadowing Bond, by Philip Gooden

“One of the best things I have ever read on Bond” - The Guardian, 6/10/2021. 

Bond Behind the Iron Curtain, written and read by James Fleming. 
Ian Fleming's nephew explores previously unseen material translated from the languages of Russian and its communist satellites, detailing their attack on capitalism and the character and morals of the Western hero, 007. 

An astonishing story.

Bond Behind the Iron Curtain

Bond Behind the Iron Curtain - Audiobook Teaser

Written for our Summer 2021 issue, Visualising Dracula takes a look at the various illustrative interpretations of the iconic villain. 

It was written by Simon Cooke, and is read by Sarah Bennett

Visualising Dracula, by Simon Cooke

The Book Collector's first podcast!

Percy Muir's article 'Ian Fleming: A Personal Memoir' from our Spring 1965 issue, read by Rupert Vansittart.

Visit www.thebookcollector.co.uk and login/subscribe to read the original article via our online archive.

'Ian Fleming: A Personal Memoir' by P.H. Muir, read by Rupert Vansittart

'Printing and the Mind of Man; The Inside Story' written by P. H. Muir for The Book Collector's Spring issue in 1967. Read here by James Fleming.

The Book Collector Podcast

'Printing and the Mind of Man' by Percy Muir

In this article from our Polar Special Issue from Autumn 2018, Bryan Oates reflects on the life, adventures and collections of his famous Great-Uncle, Captain Oates. The man who uttered the famous last words; "I'm just going outside, and I may be some time..."
The article is written, and read, by Prof. Bryan Oates.

Subscribe and access the original article, along with the rest of the Special issue, and access our full archive back to 1952 at www.thebookcollector.co.uk

'Oates on Oates' by Bryan Oates

Read by Kate Rooksby, this is article from Donald and Mary Hyde, written for The Book Collector's Autumn 1955 issue. 
This was the sixth entry for our Contemporary Collections series and offers a lovely example of mid-twentieth-century book collecting.

Read more and subscribe at www.thebookcollector.co.uk

Contemporary Collectors VI: The Hyde Collection

Following the success of our podcast on the Hyde Collection, written by Donald and Mary Hyde and ready by Kate Rooksby, we have decided to follow it up with this; the obituary of Mary Hyde, who became Mary, Viscountess Eccles, following her second marriage. 

This obituary was written by Nicolas Barker in our Winter 2003 issue, and pays tribute to the incredible life of this legendary figure in the world of books.

Read more and subscribe at www.thebookcollector.co.uk

The Obituary of Mary, Viscountess Eccles, by Nicolas Barker

Another extract from our popular Polar Special Issue from Autumn 2018. 
This article, entitled 'Cherry', explores the life of Apsley Cherry-Garrard, who, at 24 years old, was one of the youngest members of Captain Scott's ill-fated Terra Nova expedition. 
Cherry's personal account of the expedition 'The Worst Journey in the World' (1922)became a classic of travel literature.
This article was written, and is read, by our editor, James Fleming

'Cherry: A bibliophile in Antarctica' by James Fleming

'Reminiscences of a California Collector' by Ellen Shaffer is an article on Carrie Estelle Doheny, 1875-1958, who was one of America's greatest collectors and founder of the Edward Laurence Doheny Memorial Library at St. John's Seminary, Camarillo, California.

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Reminiscences of a California Collector: Mrs EL Doheny, by Ellen Shaffer

In 1966 a devastating flood swept through the city of Florence, destroying homes and livelihoods, and killing 101 people. 
This article from our Spring 1967 issue (which was dedicated to Florence) is a first hand account from Mario Witt, of the terrible events. Witt bore witness, not only to the destruction, but also the huge rallying efforts from the community, local and international, to rescue and recover the countless books, collections and libraries that were almost entirely lost.
This seemed like a timely article to record - a testament to the resilience and compassion of a community faced with a natural disaster.

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The Florence Flood of 4 November 1966, by Mario M. Witt

"Nice chap. Shame about the books."

This obituary for the 'hypnotic, manic and unrelenting' Eric Korn appeared in our Winter 2014 issue. Written by Ian Jackson, it is a witty and heartfelt gem of a tribute to this unique character from the world of book collecting. 

It is read by John Windle.

Obituary of Eric Korn, by Ian Jackson

Percy Muir and John Carter were both hugely influential to The Book Collector, and the post-war book world in general. 

"If the book trade was the vehicle by which they left their mark, it was a mark that extended far beyond the trade, influencing collectors and libraries and through them a world that stretched beyond the boundaries of academic life to those who never knew or have even heard of them."

This article was written as a tribute to them by Nicolas Barker for our Winter 2004 issue, 25 years after the death of Percy Muir, and approaching the centenary of the birth of John Carter.

The Book Collector Archive holds many of their most important works: www.thebookcollector.co.uk/archive

Percy Muir & John Carter, by Nicolas Barker

'Ian Fleming – The Notes' is a collection of notes by John Pearson, taken during his research for his 1966 biography of Ian Fleming, 'The Life of Ian Fleming'.

Pearson had been Ian Fleming’s assistant at 'The Sunday Times' and later became the third official author of the 'James Bond' series, and wrote 'James Bond: The Authorised Biography of 007' in 1973.

This podcast is taken from a chapter of 'The Notes' regarding John Hayward. Hayward was Ian’s editor at The Book Collector and the two men didn’t always see eye-to-eye. Their strained relationship is captured perfectly through Pearson’s insightful notes taken during an interview with Hayward in 1965.

We are thankful to Queen Anne Press for giving us permission to make this Podcast.

It is read by James Fleming.

http://www.queenannepress.co.uk/

Ian Fleming - The Notes (John Hayward) by John Pearson

Written by Peter Fleming in 1953, these extracts from The Times 4th Leaders include '7000 Puzzles' and 'The Intrepid Advertiser'.

They are read by James Fleming.

The Times 4th Leaders Part 1, by Peter Fleming

Between 2010 and 2014 Ann Baer wrote a series of anecdotal stories for The Book Collector, known as the Biblio-vignettes. Now, as Ann approaches her 106th birthday, we are recording these sixteen vignettes in a series of Podcasts. This is the first, a reading by Sarah Bennett of the first four:

Painting for John Hayward
The 'Gravy Soup' Plagiarism
Mr Tennyson's Pudding
Bernard Shaw's Beard

Biblio-Vignettes, Part 1, by Ann Baer

This article from The Book Collector's Summer 1959 issue is written by John Dreyfus and discusses the then-newly-released bibliography of John Baskerville's books by Dr Philip Gaskell.
It is read by James Fleming.

John Baskerville's Books, by John Dreyfus

Beloved by bibliophiles for nearly seventy years, The Book Collector is a quarterly journal and digital archive filled with erudite articles, beautiful illustrations, reviews, news, auction results and more.
Subscribe at www.thebookcollector.co.uk

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