dove-grey oasis

The pale grey skies yesterday matched the dove-grey exterior

and complemented the spring flowers outside Persephone Books.

The shop is a silvery oasis in London, situated in the wonderfully named and characterful Lamb's Conduit Street (little cafes and delis, flower shop, book shops, pubs and wine bar, and a very imposing undertaker's business), a sort of civilised, homely curiosity shop with a Georgian-style mix of domestic and business (it's both shop and office, but it feels like a large, comfortable room in a private house - cushions and flowers and reference books and wonderful posters all contribute to the atmosphere).

I was there for a stimulating, thoughtful talk by, and lunch with, Christina Hardyment whose book Dream Babies has just been republished. 

I've always been highly sceptical about baby and child advice/gurus; having twins first made me realise very quickly that there was no single babycare theory which could be applied successfully to all babies (especially to two so very different personalities) and I quickly discarded all the books I'd bought. But it's fascinating to hear the historical perspective on childcare, and Christina Hardyment treads a careful path through this minefield.

Going into Persephone Books for a couple of hours is like coming upon an oasis. I go to imbibe the atmosphere of gentle intellectual debate and to meet thoughtful, interesting women. Last time I was there in December, I was the speaker and I made some Persephone fairy cakes for the occasion.

But it was lovely to be spoken to, and catered for, this time.

Comments

[Jayne]

I love the fairy cakes!!! Off to la belle France at the weekend with three of those little grey books in my suitcase...

[Lorie]

Are those dove gray persephone cupcakes? Very nice..I love the quilt as well in your previous post.

[teresa c.]

I love the grey cakes! Who could tell grey was such a yummy colour? (I think that "Six and a half Stiches" would love this post of yours.)

[Sarah R]

Oh, Persephone books! I would buy them for my mom as treats. And the fairy cakes are lovely...who would have thought grey food could be lovely?

[Suzi]

They published my favourite book, "Miss Pettigrew lives for a day" - a real treat if you're ever feeling down!

[amy]

I can almost smell the delicious smell of a good book store!

[Anita]

The Persephone Bookshop has helped restore my own equilibrium on many occasions especially during prolonged visits to GOSH (around the corner). It is a delight to visit - I wish other bookshops had half its charm.

[Sarah]

I hadn't realised that Persephone was a shop too (doh, and me a Londoner!), I'm so glad I read your blog today.

The fairy cakes are beautifully understated :)

[Dee]

Your photos make me wish I was there! The fairy cakes are beautiful.

[kim]

Persephene bookshop has to be one of my favourite places to visit, it is, as you say, an oasis. I'm the owner of three new Persephone books that arrived on my doorstep this morning, can't wait to get reading
Kimx

[Vic]

Love the fairy cakes, I'm making some similar ones for my wedding day. I don't know this Persephone place, but I will check it out. Thank you.

[nathalie]

what a neat bookstore! and lovely gray cupcakes. i'm visiting your blog for the first time and i'm enjoying the writings and photos!!!

[SamLaTricoteuse]

Funny you talk about that today!
I discovered Persephone through your blog and had some friends pick up some books for me twice. Not bad for a Quebecker living far away from them. Two friends visiting London brought me back some books !! ET I just bought yours.. Very nice indeed..

[joanne]

How I wish to visit Persephone books..and to have the time to read each and every volume!

I just began reading your blog two weeks ago and I enjoy it as it brings a dash of colour to the grey snowny spring here in Nova Scotia.

[Sue]

Grey cakes, how suprisingly beautiful. I'm not supposed to be buying any more books, but there are two Dorothy Whipples I haven't read yet and now you've made me want to buy them NOW.

[Geraldine]

This looks like my kind of bookstore! What a great post.

[Florence]

Oh what a perfectly lovely sounding day you've had. I love your Persephone cakes.

I started on Greenery Street last night...there is just something so much more special about these books for being housed in the beautiful grey jackets.

[Margaret Powling]

What, I should like to know, is in the basket hanging outside?

[kosenrufu mama]

hi, i read your blog everyday, i love it. Delicius the cakes and their color!!

[Helen]

Persephone books are so beautiful! I'd love to visit the shop one day. Your cakes look amazing too - you've got that persephone dove grey/blue perfectly!

[Fiona]

Thankyou for the link to that book, I've just ordered it - it looks right up my alley at the moment! It reminds me of a radio programme I listened to yesterday about a book I have by an Australian historian called Janet McCalman, which details the history of one of the early obstetric hospitals here. Fascinating stuff! The podcast is here if you're interested:

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/hindsight/stories/2008/2194012.htm

Love the grey cupcakes!

[Ali]

I've just started working in a bookshop with a blessed two shelves full of Persephone gorgeousness. When things get hectic (and I'm struggling with the fiendishly complex IT systems again), I gaze at them and feel a little calmer.

[Ellen]

It's not just grey is it, but a beautiful adjective to describe what could otherwise become a very dull word...I've been reading your blog for several years and always always appreciate not only your sense of color & design, your wonderful literary interjections, but also your associations.

[Willow Caroline]

Wow.. I would so love to live near there! And love the cupcakes.. the boring name we call them across the pond.. fairycakes sounds sooo much nicer!

[msaims]

what elegant little cakes! perfect for a wedding.

[Marta Mourão]

I love your cakes :D

[Sherry]

I love Persephone so much although I can not always afford it with my student's budget and living in the US with steep shipping rates.

Your cupcakes look beautiful although I have to say, they kind of give me the creeps. I would call them Funeral Cupcakes. Or maybe Victorian Mourning Cupcakes because of that gray-purple color.

[rosie]

oh no, I feel a trip to London coming on...

[lavendergreen]

Hi Jane,

You might have seen this already, but thought I'd leave it for the others here as well - a lovely news story about Persephone Books' biggest hit, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day:

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6545048.html?desc=topstory

x
Mendozy (Lavendergreen)

[Novembrance]

Oh, loverly! I hope to get to that bookstore someday.

[SamLaTricoteuse]

By the way - how did you get that colour on the cupcakes ? Is it a personal mix ???

[Becca]

One of my favorite places in the world! The grey cupcakes are so elegant.

[Jennifer]

love the cupcakes - that lavender-ish grey is beautiful and one of my favorite colors. my mom grows "sterling silver" roses in her garden. though the color isn't the same, these cupcakes remind me of them.