Girlebooks

When it comes to the printed word, I still prefer the printing to be on paper. You could call me a Luddite; I prefer traditionalist. So, there's nothing I love more than Persephone Books. That's the U.K. publisher who's virtually cornered the market on literature by, about and for women; reprinting a variety of "lost" titles for contemporary readers. Last year I ordered a dozen titles even though the exchange rate was not in my favor.

Persephone introduced me to numerous new authors as well as Frances Hodgson Burnett's works for adult readers. Shortly thereafter, I found an unknown FHB title in a second-hand bookstore while on vacation. Imagine my chagrin when I reached the end of the book and discovered it was continued in a second volume with a different title. 

The only way I could finish the book was on-line from Project Gutenberg. It was a less than satisfactory experience because Gutenberg doesn't seem set up to satisfy those who love books. The covers, the layout, the font, the logic that readers take for granted in print is often lacking on-line. Certainly that was the way I felt exploring and reading a book from Gutenberg. 

At last that's changing, especially for those of us who can't get enough of Persephone's titles. The British publisher now has a worthy competitor: Girlebooks. Say it again slowly, with the emphasis on the "e" — electronic. Yup, it's "free ebooks by the gals."

The Web site is the work of one woman, Laura McDonald, and her mother, Joyce McDonald. They describe Girlebooks' mission as making "classic and lesser-known works by female writers available to a large audience through the ebook medium. They note they like books by men, but feel that "women's most loved and re-read books are generally books by other women." And they point out the same likely holds true for men. It works for me. 

But what really works is the attractiveness of the site and the ebooks themsleves. You can search the site by title, author, or kind of lit (British, American, young adult and new releases). And the titles are wonderful. Many I'm completely unfamiliar with, like "The Female Quixote;" old friends like "Persuasion" and "My Antonia" have perfect cover images. I don't care if it's electronic; I still want an evocative cover. Or the cover that is on my own 1911 print copy of "The Secret Garden."

If my husband can read Thomas Hardy on his iPhone then I am willing to give ebooks a try on my laptop. I have to: Girlebooks hooked me with "The Leavenworth Case" and I'm not about to find a copy anywhere else. It looks to be a quirky mystery story told in the first person. But what is even more interesting is that the author, Anna Katherine Green, was one of the first to include scientific evidence as part of her dramas. 

Even more interesting is the fact that the McDonald's discovered this author via an article in Antiques Magazine about the unique Arts-and-Crafts-era furniture designed by Charles Rohlfs with an unknown degree of collaboration by his wife — Anna Green. You can see some of their work in this slide show from Antiques Magazine.

But what hooked me is the discovery that Rohlfs and Green lived in my hometown — Buffalo — in one of my favorite neighborhoods where Rohlfs built them a Craftsman house, now in some disrepair. Thus, on my very first visit to Girlebooks, I discovered an unknown author, got a design and history lesson and a nostalgic link to the hometown of my childhood. And I haven't even started reading yet!

 Girlebooks appears to have done the impossible: they've created a catalog of ebooks that will appeal to readers of Persephone's esoteric titles and whose design will keep those of us who love print happy on-line.

All book covers from Girlebooks. Image of the Rohlfs house (above) from the Web site: Buffalo As an Architectural Museum.

Comments

[Laura McDonald]

Wow, thanks so much for the nice words! It's nice to know our work doesn't go unnoticed. And please, everyone reading this, stop by and request ebooks you'd like to see on Girlebooks.

[Shauna]

What wonderful books! I've read some but will have to put more on my list.

[LINDA from EACH LITTLE WORLD]

My pleasure, Laura. I am really impressed by your titles and the look of your site. Thought you deserved a little shout out!

[Jim/ArtofGardening.org]

I used to walk by that Rohlfs house every day on my way to work years ago. I believe it was up for sale recently.

About your comment on my Frank Lloyd Wright post:

I may not get time to get out to Oak Park. But we've been talking about getting out there (as a family) sometime in the next year. I think the open studio tour of his house and a few others in Oak Park are open this week. We almost came out for that. I have a ten-year-old interested in architecture.

I read your review way back when - I just checked it out on Amazon. It only covers four gardens! I am adding it to my birthday/Christmas list.

I'm hoping to be involved in the periphery of the renovations of the gardens at the Martin House and at Graycliff. Even if it's just volunteer hole digging or getting the word out to the world through my PR channels.

I did see the PBS show on Wright and Martin. It was produced locally. I had some friends involved in the production.

Martin was Wrights patron at the beginning of his career, and even though Wright never had a budget he didn't blow, the two were as thick as thieves.

[LINDA from EACH LITTLE WORLD]

Have you seen any of Rohlfs and Green's furniture? The photos of it on the Antiques Magazine site are quite amazing.

What fun it would be to work on the Martin house garden even as garden go-fer! The Derek Fell book is pretty good — if only because he is a gardener and photographer and therefore knows how to approach a landscape. If you know a lot about Wright then it is less satisfying. But I am kind of amazed that no one has done a book before (with the exception of Taliesin staff and associates).

Frank has a pretty mixed reputation here still — partly because people remember the unpaid bills and the scandal of leaving his wife and children etc. It is not history here; FLW always seems to be causing a commotion in the present. And there are plenty of other folks mad because Buffalo built the boathouse that was designed for Madison.

There is a new addition to the First Unitarian Society Meeting House he designed here which is quite nicely done and also has a green roof. So that's a garden that has had very little coverage so far.

[Jim/ArtofGardening.org]

Well, if it helps, the Madison boathouse does look good here on our waterfront! There's also a gas station Wright designed for Buffalo, but was never built, that is slated to be built as part of our Pierce Arrow Museum. It will be built just a few blocks away from site Wright originally had designed it for.

I was familiar with Rohlf's name, but not the furniture. I did look up the Antiques magazine slide show. His art furniture is sort of like the Roycrofters, but fancier. Nice pieces. I bet there's some floating around Buffalo that no one is aware of.

[LINDA from EACH LITTLE WORLD]

My cousins used to live near the Roycroft and we used to go there as children. I've been back a couple of times in recent years to see the restoration. I am sure you are correct about Rohlf's work probably floating around Buffalo unknown to the owners.

[Nicola]

Great post Linda. Yes, I think Girlebooks should win an innovation award, excellent idea and aesthetically pleasing covers. Watch out Persephone!!

[eliz]

A friend has a fabulous Rohlf's-designed 3rd floor ballroom. Very cool.

The Burchfield-Penney did have a show on him some time ago.

I wonder if Persephone took up where Virago left off? I have quite a library of Virago Books; they had exactly the same mission.

[LINDA from EACH LITTLE WORLD]

Nicola — still not sure how much on-line book reading I will really do, but I like the idea of a mother/daughter team publishing women's lit.

Elizabeth — Does your friend have parties in the ballroom? What a treat to have that kind of a space and designed by someone with Rohlf's quirky taste.

I would agree that Persephone has taken up Virago's mantle. Be sure to check out their Web site as it is lovely. Just got my biennial publication in the mail Friday — another nice treat for folks on the mailing list. Here's the link: http://www.persephonebooks.co.uk/