Full Product Details
Author: Michael Robb
Publisher: The History Press Ltd
Imprint: The History Press Ltd
Edition: New edition
ISBN: 9781837052592
ISBN 10: 183705259
Publication Date: 02 April 2026
Audience:
General/trade
,
General
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming
Availability: Not yet available
This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon its release.
Reviews
‘The story of the UK book trade over our lifetimes has been a rollercoaster of constant change. It’s great to see the story of our lives being captured so effectively in Michael’s closely observed history – a great read both for insiders and for social historians too.’ -- Philip Downer, Retail Consultant, ex-Chief Executive of Borders UK ‘This is a very fine survey of bookselling in Britain from ancient to modern times, but quite apart from its commendable sweep, what it uniquely combines is the historical account with an invaluable personal perspective from within the modern and contemporary book trade itself.’ -- Professor James Raven LittD FBA, Fellow of Magdalene College, Cambridge and book trade historian ‘An engaging tour of publishing and bookselling history, enriched by personal anecdotes. Accurately captures industry evolution. Essential for readers and industry newcomers alike.’ – Paul Baggaley, Editor-in-Chief, Bloomsbury Publishing -- Paul Baggaley, Editor-in-Chief, Bloomsbury Publishing ‘Almost all of us read books; some of us write them; either way they are an essential part of our life. Michael Robb describes the perils of this vital business based on years of experience, and shows how independent bookseller can and do still survive in the face of bulldozer of international online retailers. It is a business packed with romance as well as commerce.’ -- Simon Heffer, historian, author, journalist and political commentator ‘This book chronicles the fascinating journey and resilience of the UK Book trade. Michael brilliantly proves that it is the passion about books: by authors, publishers, booksellers and readers that make this industry so extraordinary. This should be read by anyone with an interest in books.’ -- Adam Hewson, owner, Hewson Books ‘In Shelf Life, Michael Robb has written a well-researched, informative and entertaining history of the noble art of selling a book. Having been a bookseller myself in the late 1980s and '90s I particularly enjoyed his more detailed and personal history of that time. He also shows the very real impact on the independent bookshops of the particularly aggressive expansion of the bookshop chains. It was an exciting time to be in Dillons and Waterstones, but as these two giants slugged it out quite a few others were caught up, to their cost, in their battles for control of the high street. The age just before the launch of Amazon was a golden age for the high street bookshops but the number of book chains that came and went just shows what volatile time it also was. Michael's book bring back happy memories of that time.’ -- Jonathan White, Sales & Marketing Manager, Troubadour Publishing ‘Exactly the book I wish I had had in my hands when I was writing mine! It's a simply written and straightforward account of the history of bookselling in Britain, and the development of British publishing, brought to life by the author's obvious passion for the subject, his warm love of books and his appreciation of the value of reading for the human soul. Full of ideas for the future, and a wake-up call to all of us who worry about the future of our children, when public and school libraries are disappearing before our eyes and screens are ubiquitous. I also enjoyed the discussion of the impact of AI on the industry, which is clearly of concern if we value genuine creativity. Packed full of interesting facts, and interviews and insights from some of the leading players in the industry.’ -- Sarah Harkness, author of <i>Literature for the People</i> ‘A very enjoyable history and survey of the present and the future.’ -- James Daunt, MD Waterstones, CEO Barnes and Noble ‘A thoughtful and engagingly personal account of the past, present and future of bookselling which is recommended to anyone with an interest in the booktrade - particularly the readers who sustain it.’ -- DJ Taylor, author and biographer ‘In Shelf Life, Michael Robb gives us 2,000 years of the history of publishing books, shot through with Robb’s own love of reading, before navigating the tempestuous present. We can’t know for sure the next chapter in the history of the book, but Michael Robb’s surging account – from William Caxton to the contemporary high street; from Wynkyn de Worde to the Net Book Agreement – can help us speculate better on the book’s possible futures. I loved reading Shelf Life.’ -- Adam Smyth, Professor of English Literature and the History of the Book at Balliol College, Oxford, and author of <i>The Book-Makers: A History of the Book in 18 Remarkable Lives</i> ‘... bookselling and bookshops remain at the heart of his story; and the case of his own shop poignantly reveals several of the salient points about the recent past in that line of work.’ ‘As a “journey through the past, present and future of bookselling and publishing in Britain”, Robb’s book has an ambitious itinerary.’ -- Michael Caines * <i>Times Literary Supplement</i> * ‘Pure catnip for booksellers and bibliophiles, Shelf Life by Michael Robb is a warm, meticulously researched history of books, bookselling, and publishing, packed with fascinating detail, surprising facts, and the author's love of the trade.’ * Shelf Awareness * ‘A great resource for master’s in publishing students!’ -- Eric Huang, City St George's, University of London ‘Robb’s passion for books and bookselling is evident on every page, and it’s this enthusiasm that transforms what could have been a dry history of the industry into a compelling narrative of resilience, change, and an enduring love for the printed word.’ -- <i>Publishing Research Quarterly</i>
‘The story of the UK book trade over our lifetimes has been a rollercoaster of constant change. It’s great to see the story of our lives being captured so effectively in Michael’s closely observed history – a great read both for insiders and for social historians too.’ -- Philip Downer, Retail Consultant, ex-Chief Executive of Borders UK ‘This is a very fine survey of bookselling in Britain from ancient to modern times, but quite apart from its commendable sweep, what it uniquely combines is the historical account with an invaluable personal perspective from within the modern and contemporary book trade itself.’ -- Professor James Raven LittD FBA, Fellow of Magdalene College, Cambridge and book trade historian ‘An engaging tour of publishing and bookselling history, enriched by personal anecdotes. Accurately captures industry evolution. Essential for readers and industry newcomers alike.’ – Paul Baggaley, Editor-in-Chief, Bloomsbury Publishing -- Paul Baggaley, Editor-in-Chief, Bloomsbury Publishing ‘Almost all of us read books; some of us write them; either way they are an essential part of our life. Michael Robb describes the perils of this vital business based on years of experience, and shows how independent bookseller can and do still survive in the face of bulldozer of international online retailers. It is a business packed with romance as well as commerce.’ -- Simon Heffer, historian, author, journalist and political commentator ‘This book chronicles the fascinating journey and resilience of the UK Book trade. Michael brilliantly proves that it is the passion about books: by authors, publishers, booksellers and readers that make this industry so extraordinary. This should be read by anyone with an interest in books.’ -- Adam Hewson, owner, Hewson Books ‘In Shelf Life, Michael Robb has written a well-researched, informative and entertaining history of the noble art of selling a book. Having been a bookseller myself in the late 1980s and '90s I particularly enjoyed his more detailed and personal history of that time. He also shows the very real impact on the independent bookshops of the particularly aggressive expansion of the bookshop chains. It was an exciting time to be in Dillons and Waterstones, but as these two giants slugged it out quite a few others were caught up, to their cost, in their battles for control of the high street. The age just before the launch of Amazon was a golden age for the high street bookshops but the number of book chains that came and went just shows what volatile time it also was. Michael's book bring back happy memories of that time.’ -- Jonathan White, Sales & Marketing Manager, Troubadour Publishing ‘Exactly the book I wish I had had in my hands when I was writing mine! It's a simply written and straightforward account of the history of bookselling in Britain, and the development of British publishing, brought to life by the author's obvious passion for the subject, his warm love of books and his appreciation of the value of reading for the human soul. Full of ideas for the future, and a wake-up call to all of us who worry about the future of our children, when public and school libraries are disappearing before our eyes and screens are ubiquitous. I also enjoyed the discussion of the impact of AI on the industry, which is clearly of concern if we value genuine creativity. Packed full of interesting facts, and interviews and insights from some of the leading players in the industry.’ -- Sarah Harkness, author of <i>Literature for the People</i> ‘A very enjoyable history and survey of the present and the future.’ -- James Daunt, MD Waterstones, CEO Barnes and Noble ‘A thoughtful and engagingly personal account of the past, present and future of bookselling which is recommended to anyone with an interest in the booktrade - particularly the readers who sustain it.’ -- DJ Taylor, author and biographer ‘In Shelf Life, Michael Robb gives us 2,000 years of the history of publishing books, shot through with Robb’s own love of reading, before navigating the tempestuous present. We can’t know for sure the next chapter in the history of the book, but Michael Robb’s surging account – from William Caxton to the contemporary high street; from Wynkyn de Worde to the Net Book Agreement – can help us speculate better on the book’s possible futures. I loved reading Shelf Life.’ -- Adam Smyth, Professor of English Literature and the History of the Book at Balliol College, Oxford, and author of <i>The Book-Makers: A History of the Book in 18 Remarkable Lives</i> ‘... bookselling and bookshops remain at the heart of his story; and the case of his own shop poignantly reveals several of the salient points about the recent past in that line of work.’ ‘As a “journey through the past, present and future of bookselling and publishing in Britain”, Robb’s book has an ambitious itinerary.’ -- Michael Caines * <i>Times Literary Supplement</i> * ‘Pure catnip for booksellers and bibliophiles, Shelf Life by Michael Robb is a warm, meticulously researched history of books, bookselling, and publishing, packed with fascinating detail, surprising facts, and the author's love of the trade.’ * Shelf Awareness * ‘A great resource for master’s in publishing students!’ -- Eric Huang, City St George's, University of London
Author Information
MICHAEL ROBB, a stalwart figure in the bookselling and publishing arena, has experienced first-hand the shifting tides of this well-loved industry over the past 40 years. From successfully running an independent bookshop in Essex for two decades, to transitioning into the publishing domain, his broad network within the book trade gives him a unique insight to the world of books.
