On Monday, 10 October, Tessa Boase returned to the former Simpsons department store in Piccadilly, now Waterstones’ London flagship, for her own book launch party - but this time to the Fifth Floor, where for the department store’s opening in 1936 no fewer than three aeroplanes were on display, including the Flying Flea, and nowadays there is the smart Fifth View bar, with a fabulous view over the London rooftops.
The Londonist features London's Lost Department Stores
The Londonist website is now carrying an excellent feature based on Tessa Boase’s London’s Lost Department Stores, on ‘10 Old London Department Stores - and What They’re Being Used For Now’.
London's Lost Department Stores launches at the former Simpson Piccadilly
Until the end of the twentieth century the magnificent marble and glass edifice of Simpson Piccadilly housed a glamorous upmarket department store. Nowadays it is Waterstones’s London flagship, and where, on Monday 26 September, London’s Lost Department Stores was launched with a talk by the author, Tessa Boase. Also contributing his reminiscences was William Sieghart, at 16 a Saturday employee at Simpson, and now known for his work in the poetry world, not least as editor of the two Poetry Pharmacy volumes. Even the Waterstones staff in attendance learned plenty about the history of the fabulous Art Deco masterpiece they work in.
Rail Advent gives a great review to Dickens on Railways
The popular railway news website Rail Advent has reviewed Dickens on Railways at great length and with real enthusiasm. ‘Train enthusiasts, fans of Charles Dickens, and anyone who enjoys stories written by someone who has a wonderful command of the English language will enjoy this book,’ it declares, and goes on,
‘The editor, Tony Williams, gives crisp and helpful introductions to the various selections he has chosen from the pen of the great 19th-century author. Dickens’ observations of both the initial days and later dominance of rail traffic in Great Britain are a joy to experience.
In summary, this is an attractive and compact book that will fit neatly inside a rucksack, briefcase, or even a large pocket. It is of interest to anyone who appreciates the work of Dickens, has an interest in railways, or simply enjoys a book that makes full use of the descriptive qualities of the English language. Very highly recommended.’
Tanya Aldred reviews The Nature of Cricket in the Cricketer magazine
With perfect timing for the start of the 2022 county cricket season next week, the new April issue of the Cricketer magazine carries an excellent review of The Nature of Cricket by Guardian cricket correspondent Tanya Aldred, who has previously written about green initiatives being taken by cricket clubs at local level. Describing it as ‘a love letter to nature and how it interacts with the game’, she goes on, ‘The pleasure of Graham Coster’s gem of a book is that he writes about the little things that are actually the big things. It is an appreciation of a game whose indulgence is time - something which gives players, and spectators, the chance to appreciate their natural surroundings, from the red clover underfoot to the red kite gliding above.’
Classic Bus reviews Routemasters of the Universe
Classic Bus magazine has given Routemasters of the Universe a great review, which deserves to be reproduced in full:
‘This little book is really great fun, showing Routemasters converted for this, that and the other - normal, quirky and bizarre. There’s lots of background stuff to put it all into context, and it’s an amazing offbeat tribute to a legendary bus type. Well done, Harry - very enjoyable!’
Routemasters of the Universe author dons Routemaster moquette pyjamas
The London Transport Museum recently added Routemaster-pattern pyjamas to its extensive range of moquette merchandise, and kindly sent a pair for the delectation of Harry Rosehill, author of Routemasters of the Universe. Here he is modelling them for Christmas.
Robert Elms features Routemasters of the Universe on BBC Radio London
On New Year’s Eve Robert Elms interviewed Harry Rosehill on his BBC Radio London show about Routemasters of the Universe (about 1 hour 30 minutes in).
The Routemaster Magazine reviews Routemasters of the Universe
The new Winter issue of the Routemaster Magazine (journal of the Routemaster Association) includes an extensive review of Harry Rosehill’s book, which it praises as ‘written in a relaxed style and entertaining way’, and as ‘a well-priced and well-produced book that would be welcome on any shelf, not just for Routemaster enthusiasts.'
The Bucks Free Press reviews 100 People You Never Knew Were at Bletchley Park
The Bucks Free Press, the local paper for Buckinghamshire, the county in which Bletchley Park is situated, has reviewed Sinclair McKay’s book.