Hay’s Famous Bookseller, an Interactive Odyssey, and Looking After Your Books: September Books Roundup

Our ongoing look at new books that have recently caught the eye of our print and online editors this month.

Dark Renaissance: The Dangerous Times and Fatal Genius of Shakespeare's Greatest Rival by Stephen Greenblatt

The literary life and times of homosexual atheist Christopher Marlowe, William Shakespeare’s peer, looking at the origins and significance of his work including his translations of Ovid and Doctor Faustus. Published by WW Norton.

Books – A Manifesto: Or How To Build a Library by Ian Patterson

A book about the importance of books of all sorts - including poetry, and in translation - by poet, teacher, bookseller, and book collector Ian Patterson, and why they remain important for our future sucess and happiness. From Weidenfeld & Nicolson.

The Invention of Charlotte Brontë: A New Life by Graham Watson

A darker biographical take on the author Jane Eyre, including new archival material by Brontë and Elizabeth Gaskell Watson. Published by Pegasus Books.

E Is for Edward: A Centennial Celebration of the Mischievous Mind of Edward Gorey by Gregory Hischak and The Edward Gorey Charitable Trust

A richly illustrated 100th birthday celebration of the writer and illustrator Edward Gorey, focusing on the wide range of material he created between 1953 and his death in 2000 and recurring themes and motifs, as well as the dozens of rarely-viewed notebooks kept by Gorey. Published by Black Dog & Leventhal

Medieval Media: Bodies, Networks, Chaucer by Ingrid Nelson

From the University of Pennsylvania Press, a look at the development of premodern media before the printing press, from Aristotle to Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales.

The New Voice of God: Language, Worldview, and the Cherokee Bible by Margaret Bender And Thomas N. Belt

The fascinating linguistic story of the Cherokee translation of the Bible, with a particular emphasis on the books of Genesis, John, and Matthew and the philosophical complexities of this cross-cultural encounter. From the University of Oklahoma Press.

Electric Spark: The Enigma of Dame Muriel by Frances Wilson

A new biography of the enigmatic 20th century writer who described herself as “Muriel the Marvel with her X-ray eyes.” Published by  Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Paper and the Making of Early Modern Literature by Georgina Wilson

From the University of Pennsylvania Press, Wilson emphasises the role of paper in the early history of books and English literature, especially authorship, composition, form, and reuse in the 17th and 18th centuries, including elements such as watermarks and rotatable paper dials,  

Storyteller: The Life of Robert Louis Stevenson by Leo Damrosch

A marvellous chronicle of the colorful writer's short life and many popular works. Nicknamed 'Storyteller' by friends in Samoa, Stevenson's own story is brought to life via his many letters. Published by Yale University Press

The Making of Winnie-the-Pooh: Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, and Other Beloved Characters by James Campbell

Marking the centenary of the first publication of the Pooh stories, Campbell looks at A. A. Milne and E. H. Shepard's successful teamwork, including the earliest draft sketches (some previously unseen) and original manuscripts as well as the characters’ Disneyfication. The author is married to E. H. Shepard’s great-granddaughter. Published by Rizzoli Universe.
        
Why I Love Horror: Essays on Horror Literature by Becky Siegel Spratford

A tribute to the horror genre featuring essays from contemporary horror writers including Grady Hendrix, Paul Tremblay, Stephen Graham Jones, Josh Malerman, Victor LaValle, Tananarive Due, and Rachel Harrison. From S&S/Saga Press.

You Are Odysseus by Laura Jenkinson-Brown

An intriguing interactive epic version of the Odyssey in which you can choose to follow alternative storylines and reach one of 51 different endings. Published by‎ Blackboard Fiction.

Illustrating The Lord of the Rings in the Soviet Bloc: Iconographies of Difference by Joel Merriner

A new angle on the much analysed story, this is the history of how Tolkien's trilogy has been interpreted by Soviet illustrators struggling with state censorship and problematic publishing issues, including the work of Gyozo Vida, Jerzy Czerniawski, Yassen Panov, Alexander Korotich, Èduard Zarjanskij, Denis Gordeev and Sergei Iukhimov. From Bloomsbury Academic.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: First Edition Facsimile
British Library Publishing celebrates 250 years since Austen’s birth with this exact reproduction of the novel as it was first published, retaining printing errors, and presented in a foiled, pale turquoise clamshell case. Also included are ribbon-bound reproductions of the British Library's collection of Austen’s letters.

Mapping the North: Myth, Exploration, Encounter by Charlotta Forss

How mapmakers have perceived and represented ‘the north’, both real and mythical by the Associate Professor in History at Södertörn University, Stockholm. From Bodleian Publishing

What We Can Know by Ian McEwan

Leading English writer McEwan's new novel centres on the influence of a major poem which is lost - and then rediscovered by an academic at the University of the South Downs - after climate catastrophe in our near future. Published by Jonathan Cape.

A History of England in 25 Poems by Catherine Clarke

A tremendous new approach in telling the history of England (and analysing what exactly that story really is), via 25 poems written between the 8th century and the pesent day, some well known but with numerous carefully selected lesser known text. Expertly written by historian Clarke in a very accessible style. Published by ‎ Allen Lane

The Bookseller of Hay: The Life and Times of Richard Booth by James Hanning

Booth is the man who put Hay on the secondhand book map, establishing the world’s largest second-hand bookshop, and indirectly paving the way for the current literary festival. Booth was an extraordinary character and the book, which includes contributions from many who knew him, captures his life and legacy keenly. Published by Corsair.

Dear Reader: An Immersive Literary Journey Through Taylor Swift's Lyrics by Viktoria Capek

For a younger reader, a marvellous introduction to the literary references in Swift's lyrics such as The Bell Jar and The Great Gatsby and how they inspired songs like Enchanted. Published by Watkins

Looking After Your Books by Francesca Galligan

Who better than the Deputy Head of Rare Books at the Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford, to help you keep your books in decent condition? Practical help on how to not only look after your books, but how to display them, repair them, and look for first editions, as well as buying at bookfairs and from dealers. A lovely little read. Published by Bodleian Libraries.