A Bookshop of One's Own

Shortlisted for the Indie Book Awards, Christopher Bland Prize and The People's Book Prize

A Waterstones Best Memoir of 2024

An Independent and Stylist Best Non-Fiction Book

The captivating true story of an underdog business - a feminist bookshop founded in Thatcher's Britain - from a woman at the heart of the women's liberation movement.

What was it like to start a feminist bookshop, in an industry dominated by men? How could a lesbian thrive in Thatcher's time, with the government legislating to restrict her rights? How do you run a business when your real aim is to change the world?

Silver Moon was the dream of three women - a bookshop with the mission to promote the work of female writers and create a much-needed safe space for any woman. Founded in 1980s London against a backdrop of homophobia and misogyny, it was a testament to the power of community, growing into Europe's biggest women's bookshop and hosting a constellation of literary stars from Margaret Atwood and Maya Angelou to Angela Carter. While contending with day-to-day struggles common to other booksellers, plus the additional burdens of misogyny and the occasional hate crime, Jane Cholmeley and her booksellers created a thriving business. But they also played a crucial and relatively unsung part in one the biggest social movements of our time.

A Bookshop of One's Own is a fascinating slice of social history from the heart of the women's liberation movement, from a true feminist and lesbian icon. Written with heart and humour, it reveals the struggle and joy that comes with starting an underdog business, while being a celebration of the power women have to change the narrative when they are the ones holding the pen.

Jane Cholmeley's A Bookshop of One's Own is a compelling autobiography that delves into the world of publishing and the arts. It is a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community and their resilience in the face of adversity, and a testament to the power of language in shaping narratives.

For fans of Olivia Laing (The Lonely City), Robin Ince (Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal), Ishmael Reed (The Complete Muhammad Ali), Jackie Kay (Bessie Smith), and Samantha Harvey (The Shapeless Unease).

HarperCollins 2024