Philippa Bernard

In 1972 Leo and Philippa Bernard bought Chelsea Rare Books, a small antiquarian bookshop in the King’s Road, Chelsea, advertised for sale in The Times. The Bernards had no previous experience of bookselling, but Chelsea in the 1970s was a lively place. The stock they acquired with the shop included everything from field sports to embroidery, children’s books, art and modern first editions. In the basement they launched The Beaufort Gallery selling prints and paintings. The young women who joined them as bookselling assistants became friends, often introducing a successor before leaving to marry, have children or move to the country. Philippa Bernard makes light of the hard work she and Leo shared, not to mention the heavy work, handling the books.

When the Romans settled in Britain in 43 CE they could hardly have imagined that the small agricultural settlement of Londinium on the Thames would eventually become one of the biggest cities in the world. Its people worshipped then in small buildings like the Mithraeum, but over the next two thousand years cathedrals, synagogues, churches, mosques and temples changed the city skyline. Destroyed many times - by fire, disease, internal revolution and foreign powers - London has always rebuilt itself, stronger than ever in its determination to over-come all the difficulties put in its path. Gradually new forms of worship from beyond these islands came to influence the capital city, bringing with them other faiths, with their own prayers, scriptures and music. As the different tribes and communities have intermingled, they have left their mark on the city, adding architectural richness to it. For religion plays a vital part in any city's life. This is the first time that the history of London's faiths and beliefs has been recounted. This is not a book for academics, though it is deeply researched and may throw light on matters not always understood. It is a readable history for those who enjoy exploring the world about them, coming to understand other Gods and the ways in which belief and prayer can differ. It will appeal to those interested in how historical development can alter the lives of a people and how religious affiliation changes history. From earliest times, when the Romans built their temple to Mithras, now reborn in the Bloomberg building near the Thames, the story follows religious changes in the city when monasteries were destroyed, a great cathedral burned, new churches were built and London almost disappeared under enemy bombardment. Ancient religions from the East have latterly made their home here. Modern ideas have taken root, and today London has a vibrant multi-faith community, its first woman Bishop, and beautiful buildings for worship in a multitude of different ways.

Exploring the life of Kathleen Raine, who played an important role in the literary history of 20th-century England, this authorized biography tells how she developed from a small girl who only wanted to be a poet into a world-renowned poet and literary scholar. Starting with Kathleen’s struggle against the constrictions of her suburban childhood, the story of her life then continues with her exciting days at Girton College in the 1920s, where she became friends with many brilliant writers, artists, and scientists. She published Blake and Tradition, marking her as a leading William Blake scholar, and works on Coleridge, Yeats, and Thomas Taylor subsequently followed. Late in life, she founded the journal Temenos with the help of Prince Charles and was honored with the Queen’s Gold Medal for poetry. Using letters, documents, and personal interviews, the extensive research shows how a woman from a modest background used her talents and ambition, in spite of the problems that they may cause, to achieve worldwide distinction in her chosen field. This complete picture of a complex and brilliant individual sympathetically assesses Kathleen Raine's work while throwing a critical light on her private life, which was often at odds with her achievements.