Dedicated to…: The Forgotten Friendships, Hidden Stories and Lost Loves found in Second-hand Books

Books are amongst the most personal of gifts. The book we choose to give a loved one is informed by our intimate knowledge of their personal histories and their tastes. Often, when we gift books, we love to explain the meaning behind our present by writing an inscription within its pages. Ordinarily, we hope the gift and its message will be enjoyed, placed lovingly on its new owner's bookshelf and treasured forever. This is not always the case, though ...

Wayne Gooderham's lifelong obsession with second-hand books is celebrated in this forthcoming book. Dedicated to...: The Forgotten Friendships, Hidden Stories and Lost Loves found in Second-hand Books compiles a selection of inscriptions he has discovered while on the look-out. First featured in blog format and then exhibited in London, the range of dedications found in the second-hand books, ranging from the sweet and sentimental, profound and insightful to the downright awkward or resentful, can be perused in this collection. Discover the hidden histories behind each cover...

From Animal Farm to Pride and Prejudice, there's something to please every book lover's taste.

Dedicated to...: The Forgotten Friendships, Hidden Stories and Lost Loves found in Second-hand Books will be published by Bantam Press (Transworld) in November 2013.

For more information, and to read through some of the collected dedications, visit the Dedicated To... blog.