Inside the Queen’s bookshop
VIEW EVENT DETAILSEvening conversation with Nicky Dunne, the Chairman of Heywood Hill
Drinks Reception 6:30pm,
Conversation 7:00pm,
Close 8:00pm
How do you build a world-class private library? Why is the printed word gaining ground against the eBook? And what will happen to old-fashioned bookshops? Nicky Dunne will talk about his experiences as Chairman of the world’s best little bookshop, delving into the past to share some wonderful literary anecdotes, whilst giving insight into what the future holds for books. Heywood Hill bookshop in Mayfair is a literary landmark in its own right. Owned by the Duke of Devonshire, it was where Nancy Mitford wrote The Pursuit of Love when working in the shop during World War II. Over the years, customers have included writers such as Evelyn Waugh, Patrick Leigh Fermor, Christopher Hitchens and David Tang, to name a few.
Since 2007 Nicky Dunne has been a Director of Heywood Hill, the famous London bookshop that specializes in bespoke services for readers and collectors. After a career in shipbroking and then political communications in Asia and the UK, Nicky became seriously distracted by his non-executive directorship at Heywood Hill. Instead of thinking about his clients’ concerns, he spent more and more timing worrying about Heywood Hill and trying to think of ways for an old-fashioned bookshop to survive in the digital age. By 2011, sales had slumped for three straight years during the great recession, and the business was on the brink of closure. Against advice from almost everyone, Nicky decided to quit his well-paid and secure consultancy job and commit to his passion – books. He became a fulltime bookseller, working on the shop floor at Heywood Hill. What happened next?
Event Details
Asia Society Hong Kong Center, 9 Justice Drive, Admiralty, Hong Kong