The Word Bookstore

The Word Bookstore, or simply The Word, is an independent bookstore in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, located in the McGill Ghetto downtown. It specializes in used philosophy and English poetry books.

Munro's Books
TypePrivate
IndustryBooks
FoundedMontreal, Quebec (1973)
Headquarters469, rue Milton
Montreal, Quebec
H2X 1W3
Key people
Adrian King-Edwards and Luci Friesen (co-founders)
WebsiteOfficial website

History

The Word Bookstore was started by Adrian King-Edwards and Luci Friesen of McGill University in 1973 in their own apartment living room as an "underground" bookstore, with a photo of George Bernard Shaw in their front window.[1] The couple, who had first met at McGill University, had spent the previous summer hawking paperbacks out of their Volkswagen van in northern British Columbia, prior to the opening of the store in their apartment. They moved their store next door to its current location on 469 Milton Street in 1975, a 19th-century brick building that was the site of the former neighborhood Chinese laundry for 70 years.[2]

The Word has frequently ranked as the number one secondhand bookstore in the Montreal Mirror's annual Best of Montreal list. In 2009, the Quebec Writer's Federation presented Friesen and King-Edwards with the QWF community award in honor of the couple's contribution to local literary culture. The Word holds readings of poetic works and publication announcements of local authors and has been cited as an inspiration to Artie Gold and Sheila Fischman.[2][3]

Specialization

The Word Bookstore specializes in literature, philosophy and poetry. They also carry an assortment of books in such fields as drama, history, political science, theology, Eastern religion, and art. A section located at the front of the store beneath a photo of Leonard Cohen highlights the latest work of Montreal poets.[4] It is a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of Canada.

References

  1. Gingras, Richard (2009), A la recherche de trésors/ In the Beginning, There was The Word
  2. McGillis, Ian (2000), The Word Bookstore: A Tribute, Véhicule Press
  3. Morrissey, Stephen (2007), Remembering Artie Gold, Montreal, Quebec: Coracle Press, ISBN 978-0-9687599-5-0
  4. JONES, MATT (2009), Honouring the Word:The Quebec Writers' Federation tips its hat to the owners of the cramped, quirky McGill Ghetto bookstore, Montreal Mirror

45.5079597°N 73.5751551°W / 45.5079597; -73.5751551

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.