Persephone Books

A gorgeous independent bookshop in Bath filled with happy lighting and beautiful books. Little cards tell you everything you need to know about any given book and each one comes with a bookmark that matches the end papers. A fantastic place to learn about lesser known female writers and pick up a riveting new read.

Wonderful independent bookshop selling books from Persephone Books, their independent publishing company! Shining a spotlight on overlooked women authors, this shop is a real gem and essential to ensure we remember the generations of women writers who came before us that allow us the (more) equal status that female authors have today. There's also space above where workshops are held; during the festival of ideas, I sent to a fantastic historical writing workshop with a wonderful group of women.

Small but robust, Persephone publishes and sells wonderful literature from early to mid 20th century. Focused on British women's lives,the books are high quality and thoughtfully printed. Great storefront too! They treated this fangirl very sweetly. Love it!

This is a great book shop and deserves all the success in the world. The one thing I would change however, to ensure that it continues to make customers delighted to buy books there, is the attitude of the lady behind the counter who really was the the complete opposite of this lovely bookshop with her rude behaviour. Have someone friendly and kind behind the counter and this bookshop would be wonderful. As it was our enthusiasm was completely dampened by this lady’s rudeness and regrettably we didn’t feel eager to return again in future. Hope this change to customer service can be made. Such a shame otherwise.

I first came across this bookstore on social media and later planned a trip to Bath to come see it, it didn't disappoint. The attention to detail in the shop is amazing: each book has its own summary to help you choose one (or three!) and carefully selected additional materials are available (posters, postcards, and more). The ladies in the shop even offer to top up your water bottle to avoid plastic waste. If the fantastic project that is Persephone Books interests you, don't hesitate, go!

I had the pleasure of visiting Persephone Books recently, and it was an absolute delight. From the moment I walked in, I was captivated by the store’s serene and inviting atmosphere. The collection is thoughtfully curated, focusing on reprinted works—mainly by women writers—from the mid-20th century, which makes every title feel like a hidden gem waiting to be rediscovered. Choosing books was no easy task because every title seemed so compelling! After much deliberation, I left with three incredible finds: Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson, Sofia Petrovna by Lydia Chukovskaya, and A Woman’s Place 1910–1975 by Ruth Adam. The unique charm of their beautifully designed editions, complete with matching bookmarks, adds to the joy of the reading experience. What struck me most was the focus on domestic feminism and stories that highlight women’s lives in all their complexity. At a time when amplifying women’s voices is more crucial than ever, Persephone Books provides a vital platform for stories that might otherwise be forgotten. It’s a beautiful reminder of the power of storytelling and its role in shaping our understanding of history and society.

First time in-store, one of the colleagues was giving another customer options and mentioned a book of a woman sent to Gulag (forced labour camps) and her other colleague remarked on it so dismissively and with a laugh for the serious topic??? If you're talking about that sort of book, you'd say something like 'this is the emotional story of a woman in Gulag', not laugh it off so casually like she did. Genuinely upsetting as it was on my list for my first trip in Bath and I'm unimpressed with her lack of empathy. You wouldn't laugh about the diary of Anne Frank, would you?

WOWOWOW this bookstore is EVERYTHING. from the mission to publish sort of lost works and emphasize women authors, to the unique grey covers with colorful interiors, this shop was truly incredible. I spent a LONG time reading all the descriptions and trying to pick out one book. The way the books are described by their staff make all the Persephone books feel irresistible! I'm so glad I visited while in Bath and are very ready to place an online order in the near future. If you're near here, you have to stop in.