Artisan Books & Bindery Takes Another Step

Last week I told you about Deborah Mitford’s new book. Fast on the heels of that e-letter, I received a note from Maisie Houghton thanking me for bringing the book to her attention, with a slight aside, “I’m not in the league with Duchesses but my coming-of-age story is out this week…”   I immediately ordered a box. The books arrived on Friday and I can say that Pitch Uncertain: A Mid-Century Middle Daughter Finds Her Voice gives the Duchess of Devonshire a serious run for her money.

“Pitch Uncertain is a beautifully drawn account of Maisie Houghton’s struggle to find her own voice as the middle child of two parents whose marriage and lives she slowly decoded as she came of age in the 1950s. Growing up in the gentle ambiance of Cambridge, Massachusetts, spending full summers in Dark Harbor, Maine, and regularly visiting her relatives in the socially polished reaches of greater New York, Maisie and her two sisters had the makings of an ideal childhood. But their parents were an enigma.

One of five sisters, Maisie’s mother Sybil Jay was the “gentle doe” of an accomplished New York family that had morphed over the twentieth century into a resilient matriarchy. Charming and independent, Maisie’s father, Frankie Kinnicutt, was the handsome, fun loving son of stolid New Yorkers whose emotional reserve and perfectly decorated residences were a stiff contrast to the liveliness of the Jay household. As parents, Sybil was diligent, caring and attentive—an anchor for the family, while Frankie was independent, playful, curious and remote—more sail than anchor. With a novelist’s sense of moment, Maisie explores her individually appealing parents and their estranged but oddly loyal relationship. Pitch Uncertain portrays an era and a genteel culture as much as it deciphers a marriage.” - - TidePool Press

This is the perfect gift for the holidays from a wonderful writer and woman who has given so much to those around her. To order your copy click on the book cover or reply to this e-mail and we’ll be sure send you a copy. If you are giving as a gift, we are happy to wrap and ship directly to the recipient with gift card enclosed. As always, shipping in the United States is free.

Happy reading!

— Craig

She was born Deborah Mitford, the seventh child of Lord and Lady Redesdale. The Redesdales were an eccentric bunch and the children were raised in rural England without much interaction with other children. Schooled at home, they went on to become writers like Diana and Jessica; somewhat infamous like Unity who was close to Adolf Hitler; and Diana Mosley who married Sir Oswald Mosley, the head of the British Union of Fascists. They all warrant books of their own.

But this is by and about Debo, as she has been known for much of her ninety years. Despite her eccentric family, Deborah Mitford fell in love with Andrew Cavendish, the second son of the Duke of Devonshire and looked forward to a life in the countryside. Everything changed when Andrew’s older brother was killed in World War II and Andrew was now in line to inherit the Duke’s vast holdings. His father did not have the appropriate succession plan in place when he died. Suddenly the Devonshires were faced with an 80% inheritance tax under English Law. Needless to say, they succeeded at saving a portion of their holdings, the centerpiece being Chatsworth, the family seat. Chatsworth is now one of the top tourist destinations in England that earns its own keep through tours, gift shops, and organic farms. This is just one story in a fascinating life that has been intertwined with writers, photographers, artists, the Kennedys, and Elvis Presley. It truly is one of those stories you simply couldn’t make up!

Wait for Me! is an fascinating look at the life Deborah Mitford, Duchess of Devonshire, a woman who has lived a life she never planned on with great enthusiasm and resilience. This book is a great read with a story that can’t help but engage almost any reader. To order your copy click on the book cover or reply to this e-mail and we’ll be sure you get a copy ASAP. As always, shipping in the United State is free.

Happy reading!

— Craig

I was standing in the shop the other day when a longtime customer walked through the door clutching a small plastic bag. She slowly unwrapped the bag and pulled out Grantland Rice’s memoir, The Tumult and the Shouting. It was a nice book, but not exactly significant until she opened it to the first page. Grantland Rice was a sportswriter and one of the top writers and broadcasters of his day until his death in 1954. Rice, also known as “Granny”, wrote about a variety of sports, and his prose was almost heroic in his elevation of sports figures to god-like figures. As the old adage goes, never judge a book by its cover.

Once my customer opened the book to the first page it was revealed that it had been signed by twelve celebrity and sports heroes in 1953, including World Heavyweight Boxing Champions Jacke Dempsey and Gene Tunney, five time Olympic Gold Medal Winner and actor Johnny Weismuller, Rube Goldberg (with a small illustration), cartoonist and inventor; John Kiernan, sportswriter; Frank Hogan, New York District Attorney from 1941-1973, known as “Mr. Integrity”; Herman Hickman, Yale University football coach, sportswriter and broadcaster; Chick Evans, professional golfer; and three we are having a hard time deciphering. We believe that it may have been a presentation copy to Rice.

There are additional photographs of the book and the signature on our website. To see them or purchase this one-of-a-kind opportunity, just click on either picture to the right.

My customer had been weeding out her shelves and stumbled across this volume she had forgotten that they owned. Not bad for a little spring cleaning. What might be lurking on your shelves? Give us a call!

— Craig