Well. I don’t often weigh in on this sort of thing, but after reading this frankly milquetoast piece of Friday-afternoon ‘journalism’, I had to say something.

https://twitter.com/radiotimes/status/1677573485453819905

When a romance is clearly and joyfully confirmed by the author of the script and the actors playing the roles, it is not ‘imagined’. It is not even subtext. It is /text/.

(And yes, I’m confirming it too, although goodness knows it shouldn’t be necessary by now.)

I try to be nice to people. I really do. In two hundred years, I’ve only permanently banned one person from my bookshop. (Politely suggesting to people that they should go far away and pursue a rewarding career in botany doesn’t count.)

Today, I am not going to be nice. This is a message for you. You know who you are, because you’re reading this somewhere it shouldn’t be visible. It’s on the advertising billboard at your Underground stop. It’s on the back of the newspaper the person is reading opposite you in the crowded train.

While I’m not officially taking part in the #FirstsOnline virtual book fair, I thought you might enjoy this item from my personal collection. Published by Bilton & Scaggs of Greek Street in 1651, this crown octavo would have set you back about 4/- unbound, or 5/6 bound. There are several errata that make this copy interesting. As you can see, the poor typesetter was having something of a bad day. There are also some additional verses in Genesis, and the text itself is an odd marriage of wording from the Geneva and King James Bibles.

There is no peace between the oldest bookshops. Secondary vendettas spring up like weeds in old brickwork, breaking down the mortar of commerce and bringing trade to a halt.

The malaise spreads. Independent sellers of the written word, their windows festive with colours, covers, look up from inventories, setting aside self-help guides and historical murders, children’s epics, celebrity biographies, shattering own-voices accounts and gleeful, winking satires.

The muttered chant of internecine antiquarian war draws them in and binds them. They are without

This is what London shall come to. Silent, waiting streets, choked with makeshift barricades as we carve the city up into rival bookshop territories. Feral paper conservators huddled in dripping archways, patching up the wounded with waxed linen thread and rag paper. The fog from seething kettles, samovars and coffee machines drifting in fragrant waves, herbal teas and builders’ brews warring with fine roasts and instant granules, until certain side-streets and alleyways are designated /cafetièrra ignota/, where none dare tread.

Welcome to more #BookbindingWithAziraphale! Well, we’ve looked at paper and binding techniques, so now it’s time to actually sew some signatures. I’ll be putting up lots of pictures but, as always, if anything is confusing do please ask questions and I’ll try and clear things up. You will need: your improvised sewing frame (if you’re using one), darning needle, strong cord or twine, sewing thread (waxed linen thread for preference, but use what you can find – thick embroidery thread or dental tape will do for now), a piece of stiff cardboard for pressing

Hello, yes. I might have got slightly distracted by my exploration of bygone days, so let’s to business! In #BookbindingWithAziraphale today I am most definitely going to talk to you about sewing. A sewing ‘thread’! Ahem. There are a variety of techniques for joining the pages of your codex together – I’ve mentioned sewing onto tapes or onto cords, the latter – known as ‘flexible sewing’ being my preferred method. Your choice of technique will be steered by the type of book you wish to make.

Hello! Today, I’d like to talk to you about paper. If you’d rather rush in (where this angel has no fear of treading), hasten forth and read ‘building the book block’. There you will find step-by-step instructions on folding and assembling your pages. #BookbindingWithAziraphale However, understanding the structure and composition of the paper you’ll be using is fundamental to making a book that will last longer and look more professional, so I invite you to stay with me while I explain some concepts.