Simon Beattie
@simon-beattie.bsky.social
Antiquarian bookseller, literary translator, choral composer. New album here: https://orchid-music.lnk.to/theworldtome
I heard at the weekend that St Paul’s Cathedral Choir is going to be singing my piece Advent Calendar at their Advent carol services this coming weekend, so that’s exciting. soundcloud.com/simon-42-1/a...
November 24, 2025 at 12:38 PM
I heard at the weekend that St Paul’s Cathedral Choir is going to be singing my piece Advent Calendar at their Advent carol services this coming weekend, so that’s exciting. soundcloud.com/simon-42-1/a...
It's that day in The Broadway.
November 21, 2025 at 12:45 PM
It's that day in The Broadway.
1968 Russian translation of Imogen Holst's study of Benjamin Britten.
November 20, 2025 at 1:27 PM
1968 Russian translation of Imogen Holst's study of Benjamin Britten.
Out now: simonbeattie.co.uk/wp-content/u...
November 19, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Out now: simonbeattie.co.uk/wp-content/u...
Live scenes from The Broadway.
November 19, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Live scenes from The Broadway.
Back in the office today after ten days in the US. Lots to catch up on, but I'm being distracted by the shadows on my desk: so wide, and yet so narrow.
November 17, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Back in the office today after ten days in the US. Lots to catch up on, but I'm being distracted by the shadows on my desk: so wide, and yet so narrow.
Just time for a little bibliotourism before flying home.
November 13, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Just time for a little bibliotourism before flying home.
Before and after.
November 7, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Before and after.
Visited Harvard Memorial Church yesterday where, a year or two ago, the choir there performed my piece A Remembrance in this chapel lined with the names of Harvard graduates who died in the First World War. A really moving space.
November 7, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Visited Harvard Memorial Church yesterday where, a year or two ago, the choir there performed my piece A Remembrance in this chapel lined with the names of Harvard graduates who died in the First World War. A really moving space.
A lesson for us all here.
November 7, 2025 at 2:04 AM
A lesson for us all here.
By a woman, for a woman: bookplate designed by the etcher Louise Le Daulceur (1721–1755) for Marie Angélique Angran d’Alleray (1724–1802). On view at the Boston book fair later this week.
November 4, 2025 at 1:23 PM
By a woman, for a woman: bookplate designed by the etcher Louise Le Daulceur (1721–1755) for Marie Angélique Angran d’Alleray (1724–1802). On view at the Boston book fair later this week.
Out now: a new album of my music, recorded by the critically acclaimed London Choral Sinfonia. www.orchidclassics.com/releases/orc...
November 4, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Out now: a new album of my music, recorded by the critically acclaimed London Choral Sinfonia. www.orchidclassics.com/releases/orc...
Is this just a Russian, or perhaps Soviet, phenomenon? Names of contributors who have died are printed within a black frame. This example in a Russian-English dictionary from 1959.
October 30, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Is this just a Russian, or perhaps Soviet, phenomenon? Names of contributors who have died are printed within a black frame. This example in a Russian-English dictionary from 1959.
Anglo-American artist Louisa Starr (1845–1909) was the first woman to gain medals for excellence from the Royal Academy Schools.
October 27, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Anglo-American artist Louisa Starr (1845–1909) was the first woman to gain medals for excellence from the Royal Academy Schools.
Printed dust-jackets. From 1835!
October 24, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Printed dust-jackets. From 1835!
Double bill advertising a London performance by the American actress Charlotte Cushman (and her sister) in 1847.
October 23, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Double bill advertising a London performance by the American actress Charlotte Cushman (and her sister) in 1847.
My Christmas cactus is getting a bit ahead of itself.
October 22, 2025 at 12:26 PM
My Christmas cactus is getting a bit ahead of itself.
Preparing for the Boston book fair.
October 20, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Preparing for the Boston book fair.
Out now: simonbeattie.co.uk/wp-content/u...
October 15, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Out now: simonbeattie.co.uk/wp-content/u...
The acer's acing it again this year.
October 13, 2025 at 9:47 AM
The acer's acing it again this year.
Very different kind of 18th-century bindings from yesterday's photo, but I still love them.
October 9, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Very different kind of 18th-century bindings from yesterday's photo, but I still love them.
Who doesn't like a bit of 18th-century bling?
October 8, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Who doesn't like a bit of 18th-century bling?
A sermon preached on St Cecilia’s Day in 1713, ‘this being the Day which Custom has Devoted to celebrate the Decency of Cathedral Service, to set forth its Usefulness, to convince the Gainsayer, to remove the Prejudices of the Ignorant, and the Cavils of the Malicious.’
October 7, 2025 at 8:59 AM
A sermon preached on St Cecilia’s Day in 1713, ‘this being the Day which Custom has Devoted to celebrate the Decency of Cathedral Service, to set forth its Usefulness, to convince the Gainsayer, to remove the Prejudices of the Ignorant, and the Cavils of the Malicious.’
A late 18th-century engraved label on the benefits of methodical reading.
October 6, 2025 at 12:58 PM
A late 18th-century engraved label on the benefits of methodical reading.