A Bookshop of One's Own

How a Group of Women Set Out to Change the World

Jane Cholmeley (Author)

A Bookshop of One's Own

How a Group of Women Set Out to Change the World

Jane Cholmeley (Author)

Hardback ~~$34.00~~ $30.60 Ebook (PDF) ~~$30.60~~ $24.48 Ebook (Epub & Mobi) ~~$30.60~~ $24.48

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Description

What was it like to start a feminist bookshop, in an industry dominated by men? How could a lesbian thrive in Thatcher's time, with the government legislating to restrict her rights? How do you run a business when your real aim is to change the world?

Silver Moon was the dream of three women – a bookshop with the mission to promote the work of female writers and create a much-needed safe space for any woman. Founded in 1980s London against a backdrop of homophobia and misogyny, it was a testament to the power of community, growing into Europe's biggest women's bookshop and hosting a constellation of literary stars from Margaret Atwood and Maya Angelou to Angela Carter. While contending with day-to-day struggles common to other booksellers, plus the additional burdens of misogyny and the occasional hate crime, Jane Cholmeley and her booksellers created a thriving business. But they also played a crucial and relatively unsung part in one the biggest social movements of our time.

A Bookshop of One's Own is a fascinating slice of social history from the heart of the women's liberation movement, from a true feminist and lesbian icon. Written with heart and humour, it reveals the struggle and joy that comes with starting an underdog business, while being a celebration of the power women have to change the narrative when they are the ones holding the pen.

Preface
Introduction
1. Who Am I?
2. The Dream Was Born
3. From Dream to Reality
4. Cash, Competition, Confusion and GLC Committees
5. From Dickensian Hovel to Shining Silver Moon
6. People, Books and Everything Else …
7. The Charing Cross Road Is Ours!
8. How Do We Do It?
9. Feminism Meets the Gentleman's Profession
10. The Customers
11. Wonderful Women All – and One Bitch
12. Coming Out
13. Pride: Politics, Partying and a Red Arrows Fly-past
14. Violence
15. 'Star worshippy' Is Fine by Me
16. Silver Moon Means Business, 1984–1992
17. A Day in the Life of … (1996)
18. Silver Moon Means Business, 1992–2001
19. Culture or Carnage?
20. Bastard Landlords
21. A Changing World
22. Goodbye, Silver Moon
23. Postscripts and Legacy

Product details

Published	Jun 26 2025
Format	Ebook (PDF)
Edition	1st
Extent	384
ISBN	9798765154106
Imprint	Bloomsbury Academic
Illustrations	4 bw illus; 12 bw photos; 3 tables
Publisher	Bloomsbury Publishing

Author

Jane Cholmeley

Jane Cholmeley is a key figure in British feminism…

A Bookshop of One's Own can be read as a business profile or as a chronicle of the LGBTQ-rights movement coming into its strength, told with heart and love.

Booklist
Unique, deftly crafted, informative, insightfully thought-provoking, and an inherently fascinating read from first page to last, A Bookshop of One's Own: How a Group of Women Set Out to Change the World is an extraordinary account that will be of immense value and appeal to readers with an interest in the role of the bookshop to a community.

Midwest Book Review
[This book] is a fascinating slice of social history from the heart of the women's liberation movement, from a true feminist and lesbian icon. Written with heart and humour, it reveals the struggle and joy that comes with starting an underdog business, while being a celebration of the power women have to change the narrative when they are the ones holding the pen.

Wisconsin Bookwatch
To step into Silver Moon Bookshop was to walk into feminist book heaven. The shop's remarkable owners made their vision reality; now co-founder Jane Cholmeley gives us the backstory with irresistible humor and courageous perspective. It's a captivating history of independent bookselling, politics, and friendship. I loved it.

Barbara Sjoholm, author of The Palace of the Snow Queen and co-founder of Seal Press
It's easy to start a feminist bookstore – all it takes is vision, tenacity, solid comrades, an incredible amount of grit, some social skills, clear politics and an absolutely wicked sense of humor. Jane Cholmeley takes us behind Silver Moon's counter to show us why and how they did it. Even the financial chapters are fascinating. It could be an instruction manual for any activist with a big vision today.

Carol Seajay, founder of Feminist Bookstore News
Cholmeley's thorough and engaging book evokes the era, the politics, the mood and the challenges of the 1980's Women's Liberation Movement as filtered through one particular and memorable business which promised to put women's writing in readers' hands, and succeeded.

Elsbeth Lindner, former managing director of The Women's Press