The title of this series is from a remark made by Thomas Jefferson in a letter to John Adams. Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, June 10, 1815. For a polygraph copy of the letter see https://www.loc.gov/resource/mtj1.048_0168_0170/
Hatchards Bookshop is situated at 187 Piccadilly next to Fortnum and Mason and roughly opposite Burlington House and the nearby and lovely Burlington Arcade.
Hatchards was an unlooked for treasure. Walking up Duke Street and past the entrance to Fortnum’s, a right turn and there it was. An interesting shop with old style windows leading in to an Aladdin’s Cave of books.
Impossible to avoid. Impossible to ignore. Exploration beckoned.
Hatchards Bookshop Piccadilly is one of the oldest and most prestigious bookshops in London. Founded in 1797 by John Hatchard, it has been a favourite destination for book lovers and literary luminaries for over two centuries.
Hatchards Bookshop Piccadilly has witnessed the rise and fall of empires, the evolution of literature, and the changing tastes of generations of readers.
The Beginnings
John Hatchard was born in 1769 in Taunton, Somerset. He moved to London in 1789 and worked as an apprentice for a bookseller named William Ginger. In 1797, he opened his own bookshop at 173 Piccadilly, near the corner of St James's Street. He soon established a reputation for selling high-quality books and attracting distinguished customers. Among his early patrons were the poet William Wordsworth, the novelist Jane Austen, and the Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger. Hatchard also published books, including the first edition of Emma by Jane Austen in 1816.
The Expansion
Hatchard's Bookshop Piccadilly expanded over the years, acquiring neighbouring premises and adding more floors. By 1820, it occupied the entire block of 187-189 Piccadilly. It also opened branches in other locations, such as Regent Street, Pall Mall, and Oxford Street. Hatchard's Bookshop Piccadilly became a cultural hub, hosting literary events, lectures, and signings. Some of the famous authors who visited the bookshop include Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde, Rudyard Kipling, George Bernard Shaw, and Winston Churchill. Hatchard's Bookshop Piccadilly also served as a meeting place for various clubs and societies, such as the Roxburghe Club, the Athenaeum Club, and the Royal Society of Literature.
The Challenges
Hatchard's Bookshop Piccadilly faced many challenges throughout its history, such as wars, fires, bombings, and competition. In 1809, a fire destroyed the bookshop and most of its stock. Hatchard rebuilt it and reopened it in 1810. In 1940, during the Blitz, a bomb hit the bookshop and damaged the roof and the windows. Hatchard repaired it and continued to operate. In 1956, a fire broke out again and gutted the interior of the bookshop. Hatchards restored it and reopened it in 1958. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Hatchard's Bookshop Piccadilly faced the challenges of changing consumer habits, online retail, and e-books. Hatchards adapted to the new trends and embraced digital technology, while maintaining its traditional values and services.
The Legacy
Hatchard's Bookshop Piccadilly is more than just a bookshop. It is a symbol of London's literary heritage, a treasure trove of books and knowledge, and a place of inspiration and discovery.
Hatchard's Bookshop Piccadilly has been awarded three Royal Warrants, by Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh, and the Prince of Wales, as the bookseller to the royal family. Hatchard's Bookshop Piccadilly is also a member of the Independent Alliance of Bookshops, a network of independent bookshops that support each other and promote local and diverse voices.
Hatchard's Bookshop Piccadilly continues to be a thriving and beloved institution, offering a wide range of books, events, and services to its loyal and new customers. Hatchard's Bookshop Piccadilly is a testament to the enduring power and beauty of books and reading.
It is a joyful place to roam and browse. Books on shelves. Tables of books featuring titles with a similar theme. One of the great pleasures was to spend some time in the Classics section where volumes of the Loeb Classical Library were on display – something not often seen in many bookshops for these are specialist volumes, containing the Greek or Latin text on one page and the translation on that opposite. The opportunity to renew acquaintance with Cicero in the original Latin was not to be missed.
The shop covers a number of levels, all reached by stairs. Exploring is wonderful with many unexpected treasures revealed. There is even a Tolkien section and it was a matter of delight for me to see on the bottom shelf a small and familiar volume.
I also enjoy Daunt Books on Marylebone High Street, "if you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need" - Circero
What a thrilling thing it must be..to see one's book in a great bookstore.
I like browsing bookstores too...we have Scorpios amongst others here. But I don't buy many & mainly for children now. I'm a library habitue, I don't need to own them. My bro on the other hand...