Tag Archives: James Lackington
When Bookselling was a Dangerous Business
In 1789, George III’s recovery from the illness which precipitated the Regency Crisis triggered nationwide rejoicing that “exceeded every thing before known.” But were they really “grateful testimonies of a nation’s love”? On 3rd April, the King issued a Royal Proclamation ordering that a day of thanksgiving be observed throughout the Kingdom to mark his…
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Putting the Temple of the Muses back on the map
The Temple of the Muses was probably the largest single shop in 18th Century England. James Lackington’s trade card boasted it was “the finest shop in the world”. Arguably, Josiah Wedgwood’s intimate London showroom was more luxurious, showcasing his ceramics as if they were works of art, and admired by his elite clientele, including royalty….
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The Four 18th-Century Publishers and Booksellers Who Made Reading Affordable
Today it is easy to forget that books were once luxury goods. A modern reader can buy a novel for a few pounds, download thousands of classics completely free, or borrow almost anything from a library. But in the early eighteenth century, owning a finely bound volume was a privilege reserved largely for the wealthy….
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Why The Temple of the Muses is the Perfect Read for Women’s History Month
When researching an entirely different story in the autumn of 2022, I visited the ancient church of St Mary the Virgin, Merton. Walking among the gravestones, one caught my eye: Dorcas, Wife of J Lackington Bookseller, Finsbury Square Ladies who chance to frisk this way, With honest Hearts and Spirits gay. A serious moment give…
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The Elephant in the Bookshop: The Paradox of an “Invisible” Workforce in London’s 18th Century Book Trade
Imagine stepping inside The Temple of the Muses in Finsbury Square — the bookshop famed in Georgian London as the largest in Europe. Shelves teem with novels, histories, pamphlets and curiosities. Priceless tomes sit side by side with cheap editions. Amid the bustle, male shop assistants in black frock-coats stand behind the circular counter underneath…
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Why The Temple of the Muses was the perfect name for a Georgian Bookshop
In the bustling heart of Georgian London, James and Dorcas Lackington didn’t just open a bookshop—they created a cultural landmark. As their business outgrew its Chiswell Street premises, the Lackingtons dared to think bigger: a temple to books. Situated on one side of Finsbury Square (32 Finsbury Place South) and designed by architect George Dance,…
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The Radical Idea of Affordable Books
Today, we take it for granted that books are within our grasp, but it wasn’t always so. By the late 18th century, literacy in England was steadily improving. Based on the ability to write their signature at the time of their marriages, historians estimate that approximately half of the population could read. But owning a…
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The Bookseller’s Wife
I took a small research trip last week to the ancient church of St Mary’s in Merton. Small, because it’s only a ten-minute walk from my mother’s house. As a child, I took ballet lessons in the parish hall, but I rarely ventured inside the church, which dates from the tenth century. My intention was…
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