Fantasies of the Bookstore

This Element explores the role of bookstores in the creative imagination by examining novels in which bookstores play a significant setting or plot. It assesses fictional bookstores as meaningful locations, borrowing the concept from human geography, and considers their spatio-temporal location, locale, and the events they generate to define their sense of place.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 75 pages
Publication date: 28 July 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

This element explores the role of the bookstore in the creative imagination, delving into the fantasies and narratives centered around these beloved establishments. Since the inaugural bookstore novel in 1917, a staggering count of nearly 500 novels have been published, showcasing the enduring fascination with these literary spaces. The study adopts the concept of meaningful locations from the field of human geography to assess fictional bookstores as dynamic narrative events rather than mere static backgrounds. As a meaningful location, the bookstore possesses the potential to host events that unfold both within its physical confines and within the broader context in which it operates.

The elements that shape the narrative space of the bookstore include its spatio-temporal location, its unique locale or composition, and the events that these elements generate to establish the bookstore's distinct sense of place. The bookstore becomes a vibrant hub where stories unfold, characters interact, and readers are transported to new worlds and perspectives.

Through a comprehensive analysis of these novels, the element sheds light on the enduring significance of the bookstore in the creative imagination, highlighting its ability to inspire, entertain, and connect readers to the world of literature in unique and enduring ways.

Weight: 98g
Dimension: 126 x 175 x 8 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108445399