The Secret History of Second-Hand Books: An Exhibition

Regular readers of The Reader Online may remember last year a post revealing some of the intriguing secrets of second hand books, discovered by writer Wayne Gooderham who set out on a self-imposed mission to unearth their hidden lives after coming across editions featuring scribbled inscriptions. If the mention of such a collection got you interested, then you need wonder no longer as now an exhibition featuring some of Wayne's favourite finds has been set up in Foyles in Charing Cross Road, London.

The Secret History of Second-Hand Books features books including awkward declarations of adolescent infatuation, regret and resentful recriminations of love affairs gone awry and moving affirmations and life lessons, with each note adding another layer of storytelling. The free exhibition is a must for bibilophiles, book lovers and those who want to cherish the unique magic of printed, physical books and the significance they can have in a person's life at one time or another.

The Secret History of Second-Hand Books is on now until Thursday 13th December in The Café at Foyles, First Floor, Charing Cross Road. Get a sneak preview of some of the favourite selections on the Foyles blog, and see all of the second-hand treasures on Wayne's Book Dedications blog. Perhaps it'll inspire you to write a special message inside a book you'll be giving this Christmas...