Review: Once Upon a Tome: The Misadventures of a Rare Bookseller

Darkshire, Oliver. Once upon a Tome: The Misadventures of a Rare Bookseller, Wherein the Theory of the Profession Is Partially Explained, with a Variety of Insufficient Examples. W.W. Norton & Company, 2023. Illustrations by Rohan Eason

A humorous account of Darkshire’s work experience in one of the oldest bookshops in Europe. Southeran was founded in 1761. Darkshire was hired as an apprentice in 2012. By his own admittance, he brought no recognizable skills into the position. Through a multi-year, disorganized process, he was trained in all the essential skills and habits in how to be a bookseller of fine and antique books: cataloguing, valuing books, dealing with customers, and accommodating the unique personalities that work in a bookshop.  

During Darkshire’s time at Southeran, the shop installed a working phone system (but employees did not want to use it), endured a renovation of sorts that is referred to as “the upheaval”, and updated its computers and website.  Darkshire brought Internet attention to Southeran through his Twitter comments.  Many of the stories in this book originate from those twitter stories.  

Shaun Bythell wrote an amusing book titled “Seven Kinds of People You Find in Bookshops.”  Darkshire also comments on customers and their behaviors.  He has names for the different types too: Spindleman; Collectors (there are two kinds: Smaugs and Draculas); Cryptids, the Ancient, the Ristlestig, and the Suited Gentlemen.  There are also the unique personalities that work in bookshops.  Most of whom appear to not want much to do with customers, mail, or requests for books or information.  How does the shop stay open? 

This is a question that Darkshire ponders as well; especially as he eventually learns the perilous state of Southeran’s financial situation.  Apparently, since 1762, Southeran has been about a year away from going broke.  Yet, the shop persists, and sales are ongoing.  

I found Darkshire’s storytelling amusing.  He elevates seemingly mundane tasks and requests to unforeseen heights of adventure. His telling of his visits to the other “cellars” gripping. And, who is that woman that lives near the other cellar?   Never a dull moment.  

While I thoroughly enjoyed most of the book, there is one component that I did not care for. As this is a book about Southeran and its unique cast of characters and clientele, and, that nothing private or particularly personal is divulged about anyone in his descriptions of them, I found his self-revealing about his sexuality unnecessary. We do not know anyone else’s sexual identity. We do not even know what any of the other employees look like. Why share so freely about himself? It detracts from the story.