My heart bleeds for bookshops.

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   Nary a day passes without more squeaks and squeals from bookshops being forced into closing because of the unfairness  of the competition, so they allege. And yet they are generally the greediest, most unhelpful and avaricious breed known to mankind. I was lucky enough to inherit the family library when Pater snuffed it and I have added to it voraciously. Generally, for the benefit of my offspring, I have chosen to complete such incomplete collections as Pa may have started, but for one reason or another was unable to locate. Those booksellers I have generally used for this purpose are inevitably fat, sleek,gorgeously caparisoned and sparkling with jewellery - two of them drive expensive classic cars ; one an Alvis, t'other a Bristol.    And yet, is there ever even the slightest of discussion on the subject of negotiation ? ..........no, there bloody well isn't !   One even has the brass neck to squeek, " My dear boy, where will my next case of Moët come from if I let you have this book one penny less than the £300 I paid for it ! ".

But now they have had their come uppance !  Never mind those charity stores which sell only books
( and whose prices are rapidly overtaking those of the book shops ), we now have Amazon where good and rare books may be bought for for virtually a couple of pounds plus three quid postage. Thanks to Amazon I have virtually doubled my library and completed many hitherto incomplete collections.