The author began his bookselling life in the King’s Road (not at Sandoe’s but Slaney & Mackay, where JdeF worked for him briefly). For the last 30 years he has managed the Waterstones in Canterbury. He has also done a great deal of reading, which bears fruit in this terrific canter among bibilographic matters, the book trade – including a fascinating section about chapbooks and pedlars – and collectors.