the sydney local: Macleay Bookshop

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Macleay Bookshop

Macleay Bookshop has been around for more than half a century, which is a very long time in ~~dog~~ aussie years, and I can only guess that in the 50+ years since Miss Norma Chapman first opened the doors of Clay's, as it was known then, it has seen a lot of weird and wonderful goings on....the white witch of the Cross Rosaleen Norton was a close neighbour, so.... you get my drift, right?

It is said that "Miss Chapman ran her wonderfully overfull and [only apparently] shambolic bookshop with perfect knowledge of the stock and literary trends past and present......" and I have to say that the current [and 4th] owner, Richard Stern carries on this tradition wonderfully well.

Richard reckons that "Macleay Bookshop is one of Sydney’s oldest and most loved bookstores – loved for it’s depth of stock, knowledgeable staff and great location in Sydney’s old bohemian quarter … and loved for something else – that expectant feeling known to the true book browser, that here is quality...."

LOOK UP at "Daphne + Apollo"by Australian Artist Victor Rubin

This store is packed to the rafters with an extremely well curated and truly eclectic range of books from art-house to racy novels; from luscious photographic tomes to Penguin Classics. There is a great range of antiquarian books and a small tightly edited collection of used books as well. There's even a range of bookish stocking fillers.

even the late, great Christopher Hitchins bowed down to PG Wodehouse

Books are displayed on every surface and in every corner, but Richard and his dedicated and very knowledgable and friendly staff have no problems in putting a hand on your request in speedy time. This is definitely a store to linger and chat but can work equally well for a last minute dash and a "quick! I need present for dad/daughter/boss/friend and I'm running late!" luckily they have the card and the wrapping paper on hand as well, and I'm sure if you ask sweetly, they will do the wrapping honours.

As a long term resident I am very interested in the history and the stories of the area, from Colonial days, thru to Razorhurst, pre-war, Bohemian 50's and Abe Saffron Days.

I had a quick scout around yesterday and chatted to Richard about some stocking fillers and some deckchair reading [if summer EVER arrives] and tried to find a book for every possible scenario and every person on that Xmas Gift List.

Here goes.......