The Bookshop, The Draper, The Candlestick Maker: A History of the High Street with Annie Gray
Tue 22 Oct 2024
7:00pm at Mr B's Emporium of Reading Delights, 14-15 John St, Bath, BA1 2JL
Book + Ticket gives you a free ticket with a copy of the book, all tickets include 15% off any books purchased on the night, author talk, Q&A and signing.
Other ways to book:
Email books@mrbsemporium.com, call 01225 331155 or pop into the shop at 14-15 John Street, Bath. BA1 2JL.
‘Like being in the company of a chatty, trusted friend … wander through the fascinating backstory of the high street with a truly excellent historian as your guide’ – Lucy Worsley
We are delighted to welcome acclaimed historian, Annie Gray, to discuss her new book The Bookshop, The Draper, The Candlestick Maker, an essential look at the surprising history and future of the high street, complete with a whole section on Bath nonetheless!
Annie Gray is a historian, cook, broadcaster and writer specialising in the history of food and dining in Britain. She is the author of Victory in the Kitchen and The Greedy Queen, as well as the presenter of TV history documentaries including Victorian Bakers and The Sweetmakers, and is the resident food historian on BBC Radio 4’s The Kitchen Cabinet.
About the book:
Bustling with rich detail, historical vignettes and surprising wares, this is the story of Britain’s best-loved but ever-changing public spaces.
What makes a high street? It’s certainly not just about the shopping; these thoroughfares are often the beating heart of our towns and cities and, by extension, of the people who use them. As spaces where local life and culture unfolds, our high streets can be playgrounds of personal indulgence and community spirit, or sites of contentious debate and politicking.
Historian Annie Gray takes us down the street and through the ages, from medieval marketplaces to the purpose-built concrete precincts of the twentieth century. Peeping through the windows of tailors, tearooms and grocers, we explore everything from the toyshops of yesteryear – where curiosities were sold for adults, not children – to the birth of brands we shop at today.
‘Fascinating history of a British institution in crisis. Annie Gray’s history illuminates, entertains and provides vital context for the big decisions we face about the future of the high street’ – Dan Snow
‘Annie Gray leads the pack’ – Jay Rayner
‘Anything that she writes is always a joy to immerse oneself in’ – Andi Oliver