Zombies Anyone?

It's apparently Zombtober and Halloween is almost on us.  So when best to try to flog some top-rate graphic novels featuring the Undead?

I'm a 'Z-Nation' man myself

Dredd vs Death

Alan Moore's take on Jack the Ripper

These can be found in our Comics/Graphic Novels section.

Or if you prefer words to pictures and Vamps to Zeds, how about a critical study of the Slayer herself?

Good News Everybody!

I'm back from my small break, so the Inventory is back on-line.

I didn't forget Diplomatist Books while I was away and have a table full of books to add to stock.  So over the next week expect some interesting titles on most of the areas we cover - stand-outs are titles on the History of Exploration, the Napoleonic Wars and the First World War.  Details will be put on our Facebook page as the updates are made.

As ever, feel free to contact us if you'd like to flag your 'wants'.

A Word of Explanation...

I'm sorry not to have done this earlier but I'll like to advise why those of you trying to search our stock are getting the message

This seller's inventory is temporarily unavailable. Please try your search with another AbeBooks Bookseller.

Well, the first thing to say is don't try another seller!  The second is to reassure you that the reason is nothing more sinister than a short holiday.  We will be back up and running next week.

As ever, I've kept my book-head on and this afternoon have bought some more goodies for your consideration.

Tackling the Book Mountain

Over on The Blog With No Name Ian is doing an interesting thing.   He's taken three books that have been languishing on his To-Read pile and is asking his readers to vote on which he should read next.

This tickles my fancy, and I sincerely hope it becomes A Thing among bloggers.  I shall certainly do it on my personal blog as soon as a slot arises in my reading*.  I think most of us can relate to Ian's situation.  My wife recently reduced my To-Read pile by two-thirds by the simple expedient of having me remove the table by my bed and replacing it with a small bookcase!

Not this one!

* For the record I'm currently reading a book on Room 40 (the naval code-breakers in World War I), one on Bletchley Park, and Pratchett and Baxter's The Long Earth.

A Warm Fuzzy Feeling

This evening a customer took the trouble to ring me to talk about a book I had sent him last week (he did try yesterday, but I was in the pub watching The Clangers).

He is in his 80s and isn't too comfortable with the Internet.  He uses the public library when he needs to go on-line, but on the whole his daughter finds him books on-line and places the orders.  He remarked on how souless the experience was - often books arrive inadequately packaged and without even a shipping manifest.  He seemed to think that me doing as a simple thing as enclosing a postcard wishing him enjoyment of the book was something special!

Well, I agree with him that buying on-line can be soulless.  But it works both ways.  It's very pleasing to have a customer send an e-mail of thanks or to ring.  So thank you to those of you do.

FaceBook

Just a reminder that Diplomatist Books has a presence on FaceBook.  If you want to know of updates here, updates too minor to deserve a blog post, book reviews we've thought helpful, or just 'stuff' we feel like sharing sign up as a follower.

However, if you do so, can I suggest that you interact in some way?  FaceBook's algorithm-things are such that you won't see the posts unless you do so.  So, if you have a notification from us, feel free to 'like' or make a comment.  The comments don't have to be profound (my preferred type would be along the lines of "Hell yes!  Take my money!  I want to buy that!", but it doesn't have to be).

I promise not to bombard you with crap.

Grey Owl

One of the more interesting writers of the 1930s was Grey Owl (1888-1938).  He was well-known in the 1930s from a series of books and lectures extolling the Native American way of life and nature conservation, particularly of  beavers, then still hunted for their skins.  He went on many lecture tours (my father heard him in Manchester).

After his death it transpired that he was not the child of a Scottish father and an Apache mother born in Montreal (or the US or Mexico) as he claimed, but Archibald Stansfeld Belaney, born in Hastings, Sussex.  He had emigrated to Canada in 1906 where he became a trapper before falling in love with the First Nations.  In addition, he was a bigamist, by some accounts being married five times.

For many years Grey Owl's lies overshadowed his environmentalist message, but recently he has been re-evaluated.  He was the subject of a 1999 film by Richard Attenborough and is admired by promoters of woodcraft, such as Ray Mears.

This post is prompted by the following new addition to our stock, one of his books for children in which Sajo, a young Ojibwe Indian girl, and her older brother adopt two young beavers, Chilawee and Chikanee, and try to save them from fur traders.

The Adventures of Sanjo and Her Beaver People, Lovat Dickson Ltd, London (1937 printing).  hb, 256pp, plates and illus, no d/w.  Spine slightly stained and faded. Signed by author. Ownership inscription.  £7.00.