Name: The Destruction of the Country House Library, by John Saumarez Smith by The Book Collector in Articles by John Saumarez Smith, read by Neil Pearson
Duration: 20 min 32 s
Description: 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.

Articles by John Saumarez Smith, read by Neil Pearson

Time for another instalment of Biblio-Vignettes from The Book Collector.

This anecdotal series was written by Ann Baer. This episode includes 'Everyman's Daughter', 'Hare and Hounds in the Lake District' and 'Ce N'est Pas Laguerre'. they are all read by Sarah Bennett.

The Book Collector Theme

Biblio-Vignettes, Part 4, by Ann Baer

The Book Collector's 50th Podcast -  A personal account by James Fleming of the relationship between the two brothers, Ian and Richard Fleming, first printed in the Book Collector for our special Ian Fleming issue in Spring 2017.

Bond Behind the Iron Curtain, by James Fleming is available to pre-order at www.thebookcollector.co.uk/store

My Uncle Ian, by James Fleming

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 second of this twelve-part series of Fred Bason's Diary, read by Clive Farahar. 
In this episode Fred shares his views on women and dating in 1920s London, and embarks on a trip to Paris.

Fred Bason's Diary - Episode 2

This is Episode 7 of the popular Fred Bason Podcast series, produced by The Book Collector, sponsored by Adrian Harrington Rare Books. 
As he comes to the end of the 1930s Fred wonders how he can improve his appreciation of poetry, takes a long trip to Liverpool, goes to the Proms, and has a friendly run-in with Jeffrey Farnol on a bench in Brighton.

Fred Bason's Diary, Episode 7

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

Actor and Book man, Neil Pearson narrates a new Podcast series for The Book Collector, featuring articles written by legendary bookdealer John Saumarez Smith.

This first episode, A Knockout Novel by a Compulsive Idler, comes from The Book Collector's Spring 2010 issue and takes a look at the operation of the infamous ring system used at country book auctions via a 1957 novel called Knock or Ring.

A Knockout Novel by a Compulsive Idler, by John Saumarez Smith

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

The latest from the marvellous John Saumarez Smith series, read by Neil Pearson. This episode, titled 'Stanley Olson's Non-Existent Literary Archives' was first published in The Book Collector's Summer 2015 issue.

Stanley Olson's Non-Existent Library Archives, by John Saumarez Smith

The latest in our JSS series of articles written for The Book Collector by John Saumarez Smith of Hayward Hill, read by Neil Pearson. This one comes from our Autumn issue for 2010.

Surprises and Anomalies in Sales of Trollope, by John Saumarez Smith

The latest in our JSS series of podcasts, read by actor and book man, Neil Pearson.

This article by John Saumarez Smith appeared in our Autumn Issue for 2008.

Dropping Books with Larry McMurtry, 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

“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

The history of the classic Christmas poem 'A Vision of St Nicholas', or 'The Night Before Christmas': from Victorian Britain back to its roots in 19th-century America, and on to Germany immediately after World War II. A podcast by Type & Forme antiquarian booksellers.

To see images of the poem as it appeared in The Strand magazine in 1891, please go to our website: https://www.typeandforme.com/index.php/2020/12/22/christmas-podcast-a-vision-of-st-nicholas/

A Vision Of St Nicholas

Written by Alan Walbank for The Book Collector's Spring 1957 issue, James Fleming now reads 'Country Collecting' in a time of national lockdown, taking us on a dreamy, nostalgic journey through country bookshops.

'Country Collecting' by Alan Walbank

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

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

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