Wivenhoe Bookshop

07/09/2026

We are privileged (and very excited) to be hosting the launch of the latest and much-anticipated new novel from award-winning author , ‘Doom Painting’ (published by Granta Books), in conversation with historian and medievalist Dr Edward Caddy at St Mary’s Church in Wivenhoe!!

The novel, set over sixteen days, is a dazzling and lyrical retelling of the 14th century Peasant’s Revolt, which serves to render it as a definitive moment in British history. From seemingly minor events, which ultimately become the catalysts for some of the most consequential political developments of the last millennium in Britain, to an access to the interiority of now great (and not-so-great) historical figures, ‘Doom Painting’ brilliantly and ambitiously charts the path of a movement – the effects of which continue to echo to this day.

The conversation will be followed by an audience Q&A and book signings and links to tickets and more information are available in our bio! You can also preorder the indie, special edition of ‘Doom Painting’, at a discounted price (also in our bio). We hope to see you all there!

14/08/2026

**TOMORROW!**

Honoured to be hosting the launch of the conclusion to James Dodds’s beloved Wivenhoe trilogy, ‘Wivenhoe Muses’, published by Jardine Press, featuring an illustrated talk from the author - James Dodds!

The novel charts the history of Wivenhoe Hall, at one time the largest house in Essex, with two great towers that were known as the great sea mark of Wivenhoe. The book takes us to the sixteenth century and wrestles with the question of whether the author of Shakespeare’s plays once lived in Wivenhoe Hall.

The talk, held in the nave of St Mary’s Church, will be followed by an audience Q&A + book signings and tickets are available in our bio or directly from the bookshop (they will also be sold on the door)! We look forward to seeing you there!

22/07/2026

**THIS FRIDAY**

We really cannot wait for our launch event The Nottage Maritime Institute, this Friday, to celebrate the publication of ’s début novel, ‘Venus, Vanishing’ (published by Picador Books UK), where she will be in conversation with author, researcher and creative facilitator Dr Penny Simpson!

The novel follows fledgling artist Hannah as she navigates her new life in late 1920s Berlin, where her personal and artistic awakening clashes tragically against the nefarious fascistic forces rising up in Germany (and Europe). Ultimately, it is only through her art that Hannah will secure her survival – or be denied any chance of escape.

Rebecca and Penny will discuss the novel (in connection with Rebecca’s curation and art history work), along with some readings (and slides!), and this will all be followed by a brief audience Q&A and book signings!

The book has been difficult to keep in the shelves (thank you to anyone who already has a copy), so we really look forward to seeing you all at The Nottage Maritime Institute to discuss the book!

13/07/2026

*THIS FRIDAY!!*

Very, very excited to be launching ’s latest ‘ingenious’ and ‘devastatingly funny’ collection ‘Cafés’, published earlier this month by Fitzcarraldo Editions! Holly will be in conversation with renowned and acclaimed poet, translator and writer Philip Terry.

‘Cafés’ sees the titular space interpreted as a new and playful, yet demanding, place and, in Holly’s unique lyric, becomes a structure of fantasy and language exploring life at the pressurised edges. Both a stylish political intervention and an elegy for communal space, this collection reaffirms Holly Pester as one of the most exciting poets of our time.

Holly and Phil will have a wonderful conversation about the collection, along with some readings, and this will be followed by a brief audience Q&A and book signings!

As our pick for poetry book of the month, the book will be available at a discounted price, throughout July!

Tickets are available in our bio and from our website, or you can buy them in the shop. We hope to see you there!

24/06/2026

TOMORROW - THURSDAY, 25 JUNE!!!

We are so excited to be hosting author , at the The Nottage Maritime Institute, to present her very recently published book ‘Looking for Mr Schwitters’ (courtesy of Little Toller Books)!

The book draws on personal memory and deep research to interrogate Kurt Schwitters’ artistic legacy and his ‘connection to place’, particularly during the last few years of his life spent in the Lake District, which ties directly to the author’s own lifelong fascination with Schwitters’ life and art – ultimately creating a portrait that restores his pivotal role in modern art. Neither straightforward biography, nor memoir, nor art history, this work exists in its own class.

Jennifer will give an illustrated presentation of the book, bookended by brief discussions, readings and an audience Q&A, with enough time for book signings at the end. It will be a wonderful opportunity to look at one of the most important figures in modern art and ask what made him so…

Tickets in our bio and we look forward to seeing you there!

18/06/2026

We were very kindly invited to answer some questions for today’s episode of BBC Upload, by wonderful host , all in promotion of Independent Bookshop Week!!! It was a great opportunity to talk a bit about the shop, especially with all of the very recent changes we have experienced…

The show airs tonight at 1800, on BBC Sounds, but will be available ‘on demand’ after that. Thank you Rob + BBC Upload!

09/05/2026

Please make sure to join us at The Nottage Maritime Institute, in a couple weeks’ time, to celebrate the launch of the ‘superb’ and ‘innovative’ new book ‘The Future in Our Past: The General Strike, 1926-2026’, written by authors Callum Cant and Matthew Lee () and published by Verso Books!

The book tells the remarkable story of the 1926 General Strike, 100 years later, and is an ‘on-the-ground’ account of how the country was brought to a standstill for nine fraught and extraordinary days. The authors then revisit the communities where the struggle was most pronounced and reflect on the lessons that the General Strike holds for labour movements in our present.

We will have the privilege of being able to discuss the book with the authors and there will be time for a brief Q+A, as well as book signings.

Tickets are available online (from our bio + website) or you can get them from the bookshop or ‘on the door’…we do hope to see many of you there, supporting this fantastic book!

15/04/2026

This month, we introduce our new ‘book(s) of the month’ series, with one or two titles selected across various genres. This being our first month, however, we have only chosen one title…

Ahead of our event with the author tomorrow, we are very happy to announce Owen Hatherley’s ‘The Alienation Effect’ as April’s book of the month!!! This ‘monumental’ and ‘arresting’ work reveals how Central Europeans ‘influenced, and continue to influence, the everyday apparatus of British cultural life’. The book covers the innovations, discoveries and movements that Central Europeans brought with them to (and initiated in) the UK, when they fled the threat of fascism and various forms of bigotry and discrimination in the early 20th century.

The book is now available at a discount, for the rest of the month, and we will have signed copies available after our event with Owen tomorrow!

*Our Isokon piece in the photo was designed by Ernest Race, as the ‘Penguin Donkey Mk II’, but the original ‘Donkey’ was designed by Egon Riss, a Viennese architect-designer who fled to the UK from Germany in 1938. Isokon and Egon both feature in the book!

03/04/2026

*TOMORROW* Our not-so-grand reopening (under new ownership) is happening TOMORROW, 04th April, 2026 - around 50 years after the shop first opened!

How fortunate to have had three very grand owners before us, who kept the bookshop alive and prospering! Help us continue that tradition by visiting us tomorrow (and pretty much every day after that) to see what books have arrived in all of these mysterious boxes 📦 📦 📦???

Soft drinks and Easter eggs/treats will be available (while supplies last) and we will have plenty of surprises available for our new customers (also while supplies last). See you soon, at the bookshop!

03/04/2026