'December 17th – Come up to dear Rose’s flat in London for two days' Christmas shopping… Take early train so as to get in extra afternoon... Bestow belongings in the rack, and open illustrated paper with sensation of leisured opulence, derived from unwonted absence of all domestic duties… Turn attention to short story, but give it up on being directed, just as I become interested, to page XLVIIb, which I am quite unable to locate. Become involved instead with suggestions for Christmas Gifts. I want my gifts, the writers assures me, to be individual yet appropriate – beautiful, and yet enduring. Then why not an Enamel dressing-table set, at £94 16s. 4d, or a set of crystal-ware, exact replica of early English cut-glass, at moderate price of £34 17s. 9d? Why not, indeed?'
- Diary of a Provincial Lady by E M Delafield (1930).
Pity the Provincial Lady because she couldn’t simply go out and buy Persephone books for everyone. This year's Christmas offer is especially for those who, like her, are feeling a little bit weary at the prospect of having to wrap up presents and dread spending Christmas Eve tangled up in ribbon and paper, not least because it delays the moment we can justifiably pour ourselves a glass of Madeira and get back to our book.
For £25 (or three for £69) including the cost of postage within the UK, we shall send a Persephone book of your choice inside a reusable fabric envelope (pictured above and below) with a bookmark tucked in it and a silk ribbon tied round it. Also included is either a blank Persephone card for you to write your own gift note or, if you prefer, a gift note hand-written by us (be sure to enter your gift message in the box provided).
The fabric envelopes have been specially designed for us by Re-Wrap, a social enterprise in South India which manufactures organic cotton products in a way that impacts positively on its women suppliers and employees. Gift-wrapping our books like this is of course kinder to the environment than using paper, since the fabric envelopes can then be re-purposed – as a sandwich bag, a make-up bag, or just to keep your current read clean rather than covered in ink or crumbs.
The fabric envelopes come in three different designs: the multi-coloured pattern used for PB no. 33 The Far Cry, the red and cream pattern used for PB no.142 As It Was, and the blue and white pattern used for PB no. 143 A Well Full Of Leaves. Please select which one you'd like when you place your order.
Not sure which of our titles to choose? Here are a few suggestions or do get in touch - we are always pleased to chat about our books.
Our Christmas offer can be ordered via the website, by telephone, or in person at our Bath shop. Within the UK it costs £25 (or three for £69) including the cost of postage (or, if you want to buy it in the shop and not pay for postage, £22 or three for £60).
Overseas customers: our Christmas offer is also available to send overseas but the price shown at checkout, whilst it does include shipping, will be significantly more than £25 (or three for £69), depending on where you are, due to the ever-increasing cost of international shipping (we are as frustrated about this as you are). Also please be aware that international shipping is taking longer than usual at the moment and although we very much hope books ordered in the next month will arrive by Christmas, we cannot guarantee it.
Sorry to do this in November! But from all of us here at Persephone Books, we wish you a very Merry Christmas.
