The Hungarian online cultural magazine, Győri Szalon, recently published an article on Scarthin Books.  A link to their website, and the feature (in Hungarian), can be found by CLICKING HERE

Our sincerest thanks to Krisztian Szilvasi, the magazine’s general editor, for this lovely feature.

Now, what would happen if we ran this article through Google Translate to see an English-to-Hungarian-to-English (re)translation?  A very amusing piece indeed, with some choice phrases, is what…

Krisztian’s Article for the Budapest Website (Google Translated)

What a swagger and boastfulness ! “Britain is the most enjoyable book store ?” You might say such a thing ? Maybe I should have stayed in the past mottónál that ” a majority of the minority bookstore ?” Only a certain or two, but rather three: Guardian Books Scarthin magazine ‘s list of “The World’s 10 Best bookstore ” in the sixth on the list , the pretentious and arrogant label has their own were hung proudly tension chests , and now has more than 40 thousand volumes of new books to used book more than 50 thousand in all, about five thousands, be rare and antiquarian books in addition to real music room, literary cafes, attractions and local events publishing company ( Apple Day festival on April 1 ) tied to the family business operated Scarthin Books name. Indeed, they would be pretentious ? Let’s see !
England Cromfordban we , the birthplace of one of the industrial revolution , where Richard Arkwright in 1771 founded the world’s first water -powered textilmalmát . Small village belonging to the province of Derbyshire Derwent Valley Mills World belongs to the heritage of the Peak District National Park for tourists , climbers , cavers and mining historians visited . The famous attractions such as Chatsworth , Haddon Hall, Kedleston Hall, find the annual Buxton Festival and Dovedale , the Monsall White Peak Trail and Cromford natural beauty of the neighborhood . But now the reputation of the real nevezetességgé enhanting Scarthin Books bookstore , which the said textile mill is directly artificial lake shore formed in 1785 .
Commitment to the books with a friend that asked the question: ” The books are all right when you’re young and when he is old , but what ‘s wrong with you in the ( di ) life in between “. Well yes, this will certainly be born , so much so that in August 2014 has received a major jubilee Scarthin Books : 40 celebrate their birthday . And all just started as a hobby when it comes to working as a clerk , disillusioned academic David Mitchell and his first wife , Pat bought a house, which stood on the ground floor of an empty retail space. Thereafter, all estéjüket shelves assembling sacrificed , and traveled constantly to be sold buy books from those who responded to their newspaper ad . The store is half full of collected old books , and the other half was filled with new publications .
In 1976 , two years after the opening of the business has gone well enough that Dave forgo the “official ” daily robot , and in exchange for an uncertain , but much more satisfying career start , but quickly I had to wake up to your daily routine is a real interminable treadmill replaced – the shop over and live almost never had downtime. New and used books distribution to each other at that time was unknown in England ‘s policy ( still not too common), but this type of specialized service promoted survival. However, the second half of the 1970s, a lot of independent bookstores , large chains have opened all over the country and in small towns , so it seemed the Scarthin Books – hidden in a quiet street in a small village out of fashion – quickly forced out of the market. Incurred by the idea of ​​moving , but luckily David could not bring himself to do .
As the books kept coming , they began kikúszni the store up to the apartment , shelves were built on the stairs up to the first floor living room. Then , as the business actually ran , additional staff was needed mainly came from friends in their free time in front of a large room housing an office has changed , and at around 1990, the family – now Dave and Jackie’s two children – have only stayed in a living room – kitchen , bedroom apartment . The washbasin had átverekedniük driving themselves to customers, which just seemed natural for David , but on the other side, so it was the last drop in the glass, which ended the second marriage also . Living in the back of the house and Guy Wendy Cooper became the assistant principal forces (completed school daughters ) who dealt with the new orders and school needs , while Dave looked after and used second-hand books.
In 1992, David married a third time , Kathy was married , and started a family life where the two older kids busy weekends , a new joint brat all the time , while buyers of books and then zsongtak ‘ in all rooms. I became eladóvá time the neighbor’s house , Dave and Kathy were given the opportunity : only had to cut a hole in the wall and re-home some furniture ( of course books ) . Thus, the three- level store , expanded to 11 rooms , and even a new friend, Ivan also helped the old books. Scarthin Books Pam handled the design and the local history publications to eventually add two more enriching hozzátoldással back of the building. In this maze , the family won the final characteristics of a small bookstore rooms available , each existing space – which is just enough room between the buyers – are covered with books . Were placed in the attic and second-hand books in their publications, as well as some standing hideaway bed and chair ( relax , sleep , study ) for the crew .
A neighbor bought a house ‘s kitchen after some remodeling family kávézóvá changed (of course ) a new bookshelves , and special images and accumulated over the years a unique document on the walls . The Scarthin Cafe outside the refreshing innivalókon (coffee, tea, hot chocolate , soft drinks ) egytálételeket ( soups , salads , pizzas, cakes ) , desserts , fruit and ice creams also offers visitors and organizes various groups ( or hosts ) to meet ( interviews , lectures, discussion groups ) inside the house or in the garden in good weather . Despite the storeroom rented the nearby historic textile mill , run out of space for further expansion . One of the rooms in a foreign language – especially French and German , but including some Hungarian (!) – Publications devoted to a freezer , a refrigerator and a piano company – it is the latter, buyers also secretly klimpírozhatnak .
The music room a unique collection of real challenge to collectors and visitors. David told us that just as the days have been ordered by a Hungarian music book series ! The collection at first sight – seems chaotic – even according to the admission staff . We find in piano, organ and violin works , orchestral music , choral works , contemporary materials , jazz , rock , Five , folk- Five , blues , world and folk music ; guides slide guitar , Celtic harp , brass didgeridoo , African amazing drums and other musical instruments . Or when you’re dancing , singing someone you fancy , there is definitely something for the good book . In addition, significant and popular of the Derbyshire resents , local history publications for Derbyshire from , say, or the Family Walks series.
People of the Books Scarthin into not only buy, but also to spend time to come. Some half an hour , others more, and some people even a half a day . One thing is certain : once he drops in here , right at home , genuine family atmosphere make you feel – some eccentric ” interest ” in the company of . The bathroom is ancient , cast iron bathtub , a coffee shop can be accessed through the “secret ” bookcase door , the tables are made of stone cutting saw , the book store facade of a hajócsavarból created ” bush ” is suspended , and the shops opposite side are wooden logs carved seats , which place included great views of the barrier located next to the mill pond.
And if we pastime : the Scarthin Apple Day is held every year since 1995, a late October Saturday almapréseléssel pie and tortasütéssel , festményvásárral , dance parade , children’s games , live music classical instrumental and competitions . , The Utopia of a kind event Scarthin 1 April joke, when staff at 12 o’clock in the street before withdrawing from the book , close it and declared the area ” independence .” The collective produces a blockade on the road and the sidewalk , stopped and searched motorists suspected smuggled goods , and handing out licenses for passage . In this case, there is always someone who does not understand the joke will be angry and call the police, but do not panic , the law enforcers bite the bullet and do not shut down the organizers . And I have to mention a little humorous awards : the “High Father ” award ( small ) associated with children ‘s father , whose head ( scalp ) to reach the beam – this should be at least 190 centimeters , but rather 193 ‘s .
The staff is completely loose beállítódású in the sense that it does not settle in the neck of customers , leaving them free to roam , and chose to spend time in solitude either . The kids will love the bookstore to walk and felszaladni upstairs book room to them ( instead of the former coal cellar ) in which there is a real fairy tale decorations from Claire Simpson  and Katy Doncaster  <Claire Simpson & Katy Doncaster>(ed)thanks to whom the ” guerrilla ” installations nicely , slowly across the business is exposed corners Iben appear. The children’s books already include the strengths of about nine thousand volumes állományukkal spring .
In 2009, Dave has reached retirement age (65 years and has been ) , and raised the collective of what would happen if you write your own book. The proposal was welcomed by the staff , so handed over to David Booker ‘s , and the team ( Guy, Wendy , Eve , John ( antiquarian books) , Phil , Edmund (music) , Nikki, Bev and Louise ) . The deal still continue to boom , and are constantly improving the shop , as well as the web page.
Dave days is still the same : every morning searches through e -mails , organizing the festivities ( for example, the Apple Day ) , the events and meetings at the Café philosophique to ; performs the tasks of marketing and promotion ; heats the solid -fuel stove in the cafeteria , you hold the waste and recycling issue , maintain the toilet , if necessary , and complaining that her only ” dirty work ” remains . And is driven by the seemingly immortal green van to go home to the people who can not bring the store to be sold in their private library . So come back sometimes half- ton shipment , 20 or even more crowded box. The staff was shocked to find the book in the already overcrowded shop forced to place .
How long can this still so ? As long as Dave is alive and well , as long as the ability to retain highly qualified personnel ; until the building collapses are not under the great weight of the books . Some maintenance will always lag behind ( in the paint, carpets, tiles on the roof ) , the store could use some improvement is always ( comfortable seats in the summer garden , the right equipment rooms , faster Internet ) . The Scarthin Books adheres to the idea, which was created and is still to survive : the Internet that exploit , capitalize on online sales lead, but rejects the modern absurdities , of visitors appealing attractions such as the bazaar gift items for sale , or the usual ” buy yourself a souvenir piece of this and that “pseudo- museum . As Dave himself summarizes concise terms : ” I do not think that would be more economical to start a business in today’s England, like ours, but I’m sure , if you manage to build up , you will be able to survive. Maybe it’s the people that love us , because we have become a living fossil , almost the last one . ”
The real Scarthin Books recreation, treasure trove , traditions and family company to the local community . David Mitchell , a bookstore owner and head warm immediacy told the Győr salons that when ( decades ago ), Czechoslovakia and Poland was , I had heard about us , Hungarians , that we are so smart and talented (or shrewd and cunning ? ) People who are ” just enter the revolving door behind you , but before you come out of it . ” Thank you to David the article provided a lot of help , the pictures and the little anecdotes , and want him to have a very, very long time, at least another 40 years , ” live , and let ‘ between not only him, but his hands ( and spirit ) of Scarthin Books too!
The world’s most interesting bookstores have written a series of stunning Santorini island of Atlantis Books bookshops , and Barter Books set up shop on the English, a Victorian train station .
Krisztian Szilvási