Continuing our amble round London's independent bookshops
Bookmarks will be familiar to anyone who's experienced the north-south bus routes towards Tottenham Court Road - perched at the bottom of Bloomsbury Street, with its bright red windows and usually bedecked in posters for a left-wing cause, it's been going for 30 years.
Bookmarks is, of course, a (or the) socialist bookshop - in fact they're the official bookseller to the TUC and discount to trade union libraries. The more eagle-eyed among you might also spot a revolutionary allusion in their phone number (020 7637 1848). Their stock obviously has a distinct left-wing slant, but they're not a bunch of crazed Commies. They have an extensive collection of books about Marxism and left-wing politics as well as more general political titles, biography, science and a surprisingly large children's section. You can pick up CDs and DVDs, too (Ken Branagh's turn as Wallander, anyone?).
The shop also hosts regular events. Over the next three Thursdays Bookmarks welcomes authors Kevin Doogan, Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett, and Granville Williams, whose book on the Miner's Strike ties in with its 25th anniversary which the shop is commemorating.
Bookmarks, 1 Bloomsbury Street WC1B 3QE. Map after the jump, images author's own. Know a good bookshop? Email us at londonist (@) gmail.com.
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