Hail the Hermitage!

On a recent trip to the Denver metro area, I scheduled a bit of time for checking out some of the used booksellers in the area.  Denver, I must say, was from a weather point of view, a real pleasure after the pretty brutal run of low temperatures we have had in southern Utah.  One of the days I was there the high temp was 57 degrees!  Caused me to have occasional daydreams of summer again!

One of the highlight of my book hunting there was a delightful used bookstore that is, I think, rather interestingly named The Hermitage Bookshop.  I’m not sure if that is a parallel to the famous museum of the same name in St. Petersburg or if it is, perhaps,  more a reference to a location like Casa Jay where I live alone like a hermit with all of my books! The store is located in a basement location commercial spot and I thought it was somewhat like going into a “book cave” and I liked it!

The store is stocked full of a great variety of excellent quality used books.  I didn’t see any books when I was perusing the natural history, science, or biography sections that did not at least meet the industry standard of “good” and most were better than that.  I found an excellent selection of books in the generas that I collect and it was of note that they had no less than a half of dozen books for sale that were already part of my personal natural history collection.  That tells me that this is a store worth maintaining a contact with as they clearly buy the very books I hunt for.

I did find a true treasure while looking over their shelves and it now sits on my new bookshelf waiting for me to begin a new adventure.  The Natural History of Selborne, by Gilbert White, is one of the most legendary books in the history of nature writing.  No less than the likes of John Burroughs and W.H. Hudson identify White’s book, first published in 1789, as the very first true book of what is accepted today as “nature writing.”  Gilbert White was not a scientist but was, rather, a commoner who perceptive powers to see the nature around him was extraordinary.  He would write about these often “everyday” type observations in a delightful style that would bring an appreciation of the nature that surrounded his rural world to readers.  This book has been on my “to find” list for some time and it was quite the score!

The owner and the staff of this store were very helpful during my visit.  If you are a collector of first editions and very rare editions, the store has many such books that are not necessarily on display so be sure to ask.  Their inventory is cataloged and can also be searched online from their web page.  If you have a few volumes that you might be in search of, if you leave a list of those titles and your contact info with the store, should one of them come in they will contact you.  They actively buy books every day so the selection constantly is updated.

So should you find yourself in Denver with a bit of time to spare, head to the Hermitage Bookshop.  While you might not find any outrageous “bargains” there, you will find shelves packed with a wide range of used books in excellent condition and offered at a fair price.  I’ll make it point to go back the next time I’m in town!

The Hermitage Bookshop:  290 Fillmore St.  Denver, CO  (303)388-6811   http://www.hermitagebooks.com    Hours:  M-F 10am-5:30pm  Saturday-10am-5pm

Cedar City's Excellent Book Seller!

On a recent trip down to Cedar City, I had the chance to pop into one of my favorite Utah used book stores, Braun’s Books.    I’ve made it a point to stop at this excellent smaller bookstore nearly every trip through Cedar City.  Of course my proclivity for stopping there is considerably enhanced by the fact that it is associated with a fine coffee house, the Grind!

When I first stopped into this treasure, maybe two years back, I encountered a young man of about 30 or so behind the counter.  When I asked if he was the proprietor, he responded “Yes, I am.”  To which I said “What the hell is a young man your age doing with a bookstore!!”  That was my introduction to Tyler Braun, the original owner of the store.  A young man with a passion for real books!  Makes me think there is a glimmer of hope into the future.

During that first visit to the store, I went to the nature section and what to my wondering eyes did I find?  An excellent copy of Edwin Way Teale’s  A Naturalist Buys An Old Farm!  Score!  Teale has been, for the last few years, one of the natural history writers I avidly collect and this was one I had not yet found!  When I took the book up to the counter and told Tyler that I had found a really good one, he said, “Oh that’s the kind you’re looking for” and then reached under the counter and pulled out a mint copy of Sigurd Olson’s Reflections From The North Country!!  Holy moly!  These are the two authors I have worked the hardest on trying to find in the last few years.   I’d have gone and bought a Utah lottery ticket that day if we had one!

In the last year, Tyler sold the store to Megan and Matt O’Sullivan.    They are both true bibliophiles and Megan told me that a common love of books was a key element in their first meeting and dating!  I’m thinking that this might give new meaning to the term “book lust!”  

Braun’s Books is, contrary to Megan’s joking contentions, a very well organized store.  Various generas and subject areas are clearly identified and are, to my standards, pretty well organized.  Are there piles of newly purchased books all around the register?  Sure, but I’d be disappointed if there wasn’t.  Knowing that Megan and Matt are buying on a regular basis keeps me returning and it has been a rare stop in the store when I have failed to leave without a new treasure!

On my most recent trip to Braun’s, I managed to snag a fine hardbound copy of Barry Lopez’ Arctic Dreams.  This tome, one of the true classics of nature writing in the latter 20^th century, is a book I’ve previously read but it is a very fitting addition to my natural history collection.  This book was the winner of the National Book Award for non-fiction in 1986 and was really the work that exposed Lopez to a larger audience for his extraordinarily gifted ability to portray both nature and the relationship of humans to nature in such an eloquent manner.  Since that time, he has gone on to write many books, all in the same vein.

Braun’s carries an excellent selection of new, used, and collectible books.  The collectible books are in a case behind the counter and are worthy of perusing.  I’ve not bought one out of there yet, as I’ve not seen any natural history books I had to have or did not already have, but they do have a very good array of both American  and Utah classics in that complement.    

So the next time you find yourself in the vicinity of Cedar City, hop off and head to Braun’s Books!  Pop into The Grind, grab a cup of their outstanding java, fire up the laptop and read the latest from the Book Hunter (ah yes, a shameless plug but then again I am!), and then head next door into a delightful  mecca of great books and friendly owners!

Braun’s Books does not have a website but does have a great FB page where Megan posts schedule event such as book signing and other activities. 

Braun’s Books:  25 North Main St.  Cedar City, UT  84720 (435) 586-8303