FREE BOOK ALERT!
That ought to grab your attention, if you’re anything like me. I’m delighted to tell you that, as part of Hesperus Week, the lovely people at Hesperus are offering one of you lot any one of their backlist, gratis. Hurray!
You probably know the drill –
just put your name in the comments, or email me at simondavidthomas@yahoo.co.uk if the comments box is playing up, and I’ll put your name in.
The list of books Hesperus print can be found at their website, just click
on the ‘titles’ or ‘authors’ or ‘subjects’ in the left-hand column, and have a look through. You can even search by the Foreword Writers – and they have snared some wonderful writers for these. Doris Lessing, Margaret Drabble, A.S. Byatt, Germaine Greer, Victoria Glendinning, Umberto Eco, Hermione Lee, Simon Schama, Fay Weldon, Zadie Smith, Will Self… I absolutely defy anyone to leave their catalogue without wanting something. 
Personally, I want more or less the lot…
It might be nice if, with your name in the comments, you suggested the book you’ve got your eye on – though this is, of course, completely optional. A word of warning, though – some of the books listed aren’t yet published, or aren’t on the backlist. Have a look at the publication date – anything 2007 or earlier and we’re cooking with gas, as they say.
Don’t worry if this is your first time to Stuck-in-a-Book, or you’ve never commented before – the more the merrier.
I’ve littered this post with a few pictoral suggestions… but don’t let me influence you… have a look for yourself! And don’t forget to put your name in the comments. Good luck! I’ll leave it open until Saturday.
Margaret Szedenits
anisopteras@gmail.com
Can you add me please, Simon. The early Charlotte Bronte woks look fascinating as does the Woolf Hyde Park gate News.
Carol
I haven’t time to look at the Hesperus catalogue just now but I will do so later today. Please include me in the whatever for the free book. Thanks.
I love love love Hesperus books, and I have my beady eye on that Emily B. And the Woolf. And the… all of them. Please count me in! Thanks.
I love Hesperus and I have nothing to read. Even if you don’t believe me Simon, please put my name in the draw.
Aphra Behn, please, for me if my name is drawn … she was the first female novelist (as far as I know) and anyway the Hesperus titles are so wonderful that I didn’t get beyond the Bs before I chose!
Gosh – so many titles to choose from! Behind a Mask – Louisa May Alcott, Christina Rossetti’s Commonplace, Cousin Phillis by Elizabeth Gaskell, Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow… I could go on! Count me in.
Annie Dillard’s The Maytrees would be gratefully recieved if it’s my name that’s picked.
Idle thoughts of an idle fellow, The frozen deep, Mrs Lirriper, The haunted house, A house to let,Claudine’s house – oh, you know the kind of thing, Simon. Thank you, Barbara
Please put my name in the hat, Simon. I’d love to try G.K. Chesterton’s The Club of Queer Trades if I’m picked.
Please count me in, Simon!
sherry
Please add me in the drawing. I haven’t had time to look at the catalog, but I have no doubt there are many things that I would love to have! Thanks.
Letters from America by Rupert Brooke please, if I’m chosen.
I’d like to join in. I’d like Mrs Lirriper or Monday and Tuesday by Woolf. The former is Dickens.What fun you’ve been chosen for this. I had 2 come today courtesy of Ellie but lie you I’d love them all.
Dark Puss paw marks
“MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE OF MONSIEUR DE VOLTAIRE” by VOLTAIRE
Translated by: Andrew Brown
Please enter me, you can reach me on my work mail (pigeon post) or alternatively when you come round to my house every day to watch a certain daily soap.
You pick a book i might like if i win, im in to trying stuff i wouldnt normally pick at the moment, hence ‘The Good Thief’s Guide to Amsterdam’ (read it STIAB readers!)
Lge. XxX
Have Hesperus commissioned Patch to do the honours this time round?
Better not add me to the list, lest you face accusations of nepotism.
Hello, Simon :)
This is so nice of you !
I would really like one of the books by Forster ( their catalogue has two of them : Artic Summer and The Obelisk. I’ve just fell in love with A Room With a View this year and I’m dying to read more.
Their catalogue is amazing : I wish I could buy all the Gaskell, Dickens, Alcott, Hardy and Woolf :)
I loved Bulgakov’s Master and the Margherita, so would very much enjoy anything else by him- do add me: helen.rennie@univ.ox.ac.uk
If I was lucky enough to win I’d like ‘Idle thoughts of an idle Fellow’. Very belated congratulations on your graduation Simon-hope the noisy protesters didn’t spoil it.
Deborah
This is neat! I’ll toss my hat in the ring too: for Woolf’s _Monday or Tuesday_ – or, (having looked up another one mentioned here) _The Good Thief’s Guide to Amsterdam_, though it’s probably too new(??).
nancy b t
Of course the ideal title would be
“On the Art of Making Up One’s Mind” (Jerome K. Jerome) but I would love to read The Lost Stradivarius by J. Meade Faulkner. It has been lovely reading through the Hesperus list…..
I’m really into poetry so any title would thrill me! Thanks!
Throw my name in please. I’ve got my eye on the Mansfield or one of the Brontes.
Nepotism or not, count me in – and, should I be chosen, YOU select the book for me – you usually get it Just RIGHT! OVW
Oooh you can count me in! Have just spent a very happy few mins looking at the catalogue and have now got a wee list going on…Vita’s ‘The Heir’ sounds fantastic as did Anthony Burgess’s offering, and my loyalty strained towards Hardy’s ‘Fellow Townsmen’…but I think the man of the day has to be Thackeray’s ‘Rebecca and Rowena’. :-) xClare
O, if it’s me…Hyde Park News or Carlyle’s House or Memoirs of a Novelist…or Rupert Brooke’s American letters, but stop! Must not be greedy.
I’ll drop my name here. A free book is always great!
Please add my name to the pot. So kind of you to offer up a Hesperus–they are quite nice, aren’t they!
Are there any non-fiction under the Hesperus imprint? – put me down for that! (If the lot falls upon your dear Papa).
Ooo, must enter! Nice contest. ^^
[nickiheart16@aim.com]
I started looking – but too many to choose from! So I will put my name in now and choose if I’m lucky.
Pip
Please add me to the draw; there are so many from the catalogue that I would like but Wilkie Collins’ ‘Who Killed Zebedee?’ would probably be my choice.
Thanks very much
Eloise
I went and looked, but I’m still indecisive. I’ll wait to see if I win. :-)
I love Hesperus books! I’m new to your blog but would love to have my name thrown in the hat too. There are so many titles that I’d love to have but lately I seem to be seeing L.P. Hartley’s name popping up in various places so Simonetta Perkins seems like a good choice.