Shelf Life: A Journey Through the Past, Present & Future of Bookselling and Publishing in Britain

‘A very enjoyable history and survey of the present and the future.’ - James Daunt, Managing Director of Waterstones; CEO of Barnes & Noble Embark on a captivating journey through the ages with Shelf Life, a meticulously crafted exploration of bookselling and publishing that spans two millennia. This engaging narrative unveils the resilience and innovation of key figures who have shaped the literary landscape, from the pioneering days of William Caxton to the contemporary influence of Jeff Bezos. As the narrative navigates the ever-evolving terrain of book retail, it delves into the seismic changes of the past forty years and reflects on the current state of the industry, as well as offering insights into the challenges and future opportunities that lie ahead for publishing and bookselling in the twenty-first century. A must-read for anyone passionate about books, bookshops and the enduring legacy of the written word.

Table of Contents:
Title Copyright Contents Introduction: On Books and Bookshops Part One: Remembrance of Things Past 1 William Caxton the Pioneer: Early Episodes in the History of Bookselling 2 Wynkyn de Worde and the Development of the Publishing Business 3 James Lackington’s Temple of the Muses: Bookselling in the Age of the Enlightenment 4 Charles Edward Mudie and W.H. Smith: Literary Culture in the Nineteenth Century 5 Allen Lane and the Paperback Revolution: The Quest for a Wider Book Market in the Twentieth Century 6 Bookselling in the Twentieth Century Part Two: The Way We Live Now 7 Tim Waterstone and the Bookselling and Publishing Transformation of the 1980s Interlude: The Closing of a Bookshop 8 Selling Books in the New Millennium 9 Changes to the Wider Book Industry 10 Jeff Bezos and the Rise of Amazon 11 The Digital, Audio and Self-Publishing Explosion 12 How the Book Trade Fought Back Part Three: The Shape of Things to Come 13 The Road Ahead for Bookselling 14 The Road Ahead for Publishing 15 Two Big Issues for the Book Trade Epilogue: The Last Word Useful Information Acknowledgements Bibliography

About the Author :
MICHAEL ROBB, a stalwart figure in the bookselling and publishing arena, has experienced first-hand the shifting tides of this well-loved industry over the past 40 years. From successfully running an independent bookshop in Essex for two decades, to transitioning into the publishing domain, his broad network within the book trade gives him a unique insight to the world of books.

Review :
‘The story of the UK book trade over our lifetimes has been a rollercoaster of constant change. It’s great to see the story of our lives being captured so effectively in Michael’s closely observed history – a great read both for insiders and for social historians too.’ ‘This is a very fine survey of bookselling in Britain from ancient to modern times, but quite apart from its commendable sweep, what it uniquely combines is the historical account with an invaluable personal perspective from within the modern and contemporary book trade itself.’ ‘An engaging tour of publishing and bookselling history, enriched by personal anecdotes. Accurately captures industry evolution. Essential for readers and industry newcomers alike.’ – Paul Baggaley, Editor-in-Chief, Bloomsbury Publishing ‘Almost all of us read books; some of us write them; either way they are an essential part of our life. Michael Robb describes the perils of this vital business based on years of experience, and shows how independent bookseller can and do still survive in the face of bulldozer of international online retailers. It is a business packed with romance as well as commerce.’ ‘This book chronicles the fascinating journey and resilience of the UK Book trade. Michael brilliantly proves that it is the passion about books: by authors, publishers, booksellers and readers that make this industry so extraordinary. This should be read by anyone with an interest in books.’ ‘In Shelf Life, Michael Robb has written a well-researched, informative and entertaining history of the noble art of selling a book. Having been a bookseller myself in the late 1980s and '90s I particularly enjoyed his more detailed and personal history of that time. He also shows the very real impact on the independent bookshops of the particularly aggressive expansion of the bookshop chains. It was an exciting time to be in Dillons and Waterstones, but as these two giants slugged it out quite a few others were caught up, to their cost, in their battles for control of the high street. The age just before the launch of Amazon was a golden age for the high street bookshops but the number of book chains that came and went just shows what volatile time it also was. Michael's book bring back happy memories of that time.’ ‘Exactly the book I wish I had had in my hands when I was writing mine! It's a simply written and straightforward account of the history of bookselling in Britain, and the development of British publishing, brought to life by the author's obvious passion for the subject, his warm love of books and his appreciation of the value of reading for the human soul. Full of ideas for the future, and a wake-up call to all of us who worry about the future of our children, when public and school libraries are disappearing before our eyes and screens are ubiquitous. I also enjoyed the discussion of the impact of AI on the industry, which is clearly of concern if we value genuine creativity. Packed full of interesting facts, and interviews and insights from some of the leading players in the industry.’ ‘A very enjoyable history and survey of the present and the future.’ ‘A thoughtful and engagingly personal account of the past, present and future of bookselling which is recommended to anyone with an interest in the booktrade - particularly the readers who sustain it.’ ‘In Shelf Life, Michael Robb gives us 2,000 years of the history of publishing books, shot through with Robb’s own love of reading, before navigating the tempestuous present. We can’t know for sure the next chapter in the history of the book, but Michael Robb’s surging account – from William Caxton to the contemporary high street; from Wynkyn de Worde to the Net Book Agreement – can help us speculate better on the book’s possible futures. I loved reading Shelf Life.’ ‘... bookselling and bookshops remain at the heart of his story; and the case of his own shop poignantly reveals several of the salient points about the recent past in that line of work.’ ‘As a “journey through the past, present and future of bookselling and publishing in Britain”, Robb’s book has an ambitious itinerary.’ ‘Pure catnip for booksellers and bibliophiles, Shelf Life by Michael Robb is a warm, meticulously researched history of books, bookselling, and publishing, packed with fascinating detail, surprising facts, and the author's love of the trade.’