The Philosophy Breakfasts by Dr Colin Phillips

Our latest publication is a tribute to the late Dr Colin Phillips, philosophy lecturer and inaugural tutor of the the bookshop’s ‘Philosophy Breakfast’, a pioneering course which commenced in 2003.

The Saturday morning sessions originated from a pub conversation during which we asked Colin if it would be possible to hold a discussion group making philosophical issues such as free will, justice, and God accessible and pertinent to people’s daily lives.

“Absolutely” stated Colin, and so ‘Philosophy Breakfast’ was born, a winning combination of stimulating debate in good company with a continental breakfast of great coffee and fresh croissants.

After a decade, Colin retired and passed the baton to Dr Nicholas Joll, and the bookshop’s ‘Philosophy Breakfast’ remains as popular as ever.

We are indebted to Colin for both the initial realization of our idea, and ten exciting years of lively group discussion on key philosophical questions.

Dr Colin Phillips

Colin was awarded a first class honours degree in philosophy from Trinity College Cambridge and completed his PhD at Swansea. His  interests were in the philosophies of language, mind and mathematics, and he lectured in philosophy at the University of Essex from 1975 to 1984, when he took early retirement.

Thanks are due to Professor Raymond Turner for his contribution to the project. Prof Turner is an English logician, philosopher, and theoretical computer scientist based at the University of Essex. He is best known for his work on logic in computer science and for his pioneering work in the philosophy of computer science.

Thanks also to Lorna Phillips for her support, to John Wallett for design, Adrian Multon for photography, and to Colin’s attendees for their memories.

To order the book for £7.99 call us on 01206 824050 or send an email.

Creel 4 – an Anthology

Creel4 is the fourth anthology of short stories, nature writing and poems by undergraduate and postgraduate students from the Department of Literature, Film and Theatre studies at the University of Essex.

The Centre for Creative Writing has a strong tradition of teaching that emphasizes innovation and experimentation. They are passionate about encouraging our students to write and create in fresh and exciting directions – discovering their unique voices and producing original works that will inspire and invigorate the field of literature, and challenge the bouindaries of genre.

From the delicate whispers of srtefacts found deep in the museum’s archives, to the roaring voice of those exploring mental health issues,these works showcase the variety of writing  that students are creating at Essex.

Creel 4 is introduced by Dr Holly Pester, and the pieces selected by Matthew de Abaitua, Dr James Canton and Dr Holly Pester.

The Language Land by Anita Debska

In 2018 Poland celebrated the centenary of its reunification as an independent state.

The Language-Land presents images of the Polish countryside in the words of nineteenth-century Polish writers accompanied by modern photographs of Polish landscapes, a personal selection on the part of translator and photographer.

The texts are presented in both Polish and in English translation, together with a commentary to guide the reader through the book. After Poland was partitioned by its neighbours in 1795 and disappeared from the map, the poets in exile created a ‘language-land’ from their native landscapes and writers still living in the territory of the former Republic recorded ongoing rural life and traditions. Thus the independent Polish state that came into being in 1918 inherited a strong sense of national identity and a rich literature.

The year in which modern Poland celebrates its centenary is a time of worldwide displacement of people for whom the creation and cherishing of a personal ‘language-land’ seems more than ever meaningful. The book is a tribute to the Polish writers in each partition, and to those forced into exile who preserved the sense of Polish identity and attachment to their country. It includes photographs of the Polish countryside and a commentary by the translator, whose own experience of the land and culture began six decades ago.

The Language Land is published by Wivenbooks Press, the Wivenhoe Bookshop imprint, and designed by Catherine Dodds.

To order the book for £9.00 call us on 01206 824050 or send an email.

Discovering England by Adrian May

‘Creel 2’ is a unique collection of short stories and poems by postgraduate students from the University of Essex showcasing the varied approaches currently being undertaken by Essex students from all over the globe.

Days begin…

‘A wonderful project with some stunning poems from some of our brightest talents…’

Carol Ann Duffy

To order the book for £10.00 call us on 01206 824050 or send an email.

Days begin….

Wivenbooks latest publication ‘Days begin….’,  is a superb collection of contemporary poetry in support of the Colchester Cancer Centre Campaign, published in collaboration with poetrywivenhoe.

Peter Kennedy of poetrywivenhoe speaks about it here:

‘Here is an arresting collection of poems about all manner of things, from suffragettes to fishmongers, from desert winds to Picasso women, from the Bakerloo Line to Runcorn Bridge. Here are poems subtle and poems direct, poems about love and about loss, written by some of our finest poets, all of whom have been guests at poetrywivenhoe.’

About the Book

The genesis of  ‘Days begin….’ came about through extraordinary generosity on the part of many.

Peter Kennedy initiated the project and has worked tremendously hard too drive it forwards.  The publication was funded by kind donations via  ‘Just Giving’, and the poems were contributed, without fee, by forty-two  poets . John Wallett has contributed his expertise to beautifully design the book and cover, and Wivenhoe artist Barbara Peirson kindly gave permission for her artwork to be used on the book cover.

The Wivenhoe Bookshop have published the book through our ‘Wivenbooks ‘ imprint,  we are waiving our customary trade terms, enabling all proceeds from the sale of the book to contribute to the campaign.

Some of the poems are new, some are previously published, and the list of contributors represents about half of those who have headlined at poetrywivenhoe.

The book also features an introduction by Sir John Ashworth, Chairman of the Cancer Centre Campaign and cancer survivor.

‘Days begin….’ is priced at £10, and all proceeds go to the Colchester Cancer Centre Campaign.

To order the book for £10.00 call us on 01206 824050 or send an email.

The book was launched at the Royal British Legion on Wivenhoe Quay in July 2015.

PREVIOUS PUBLICATIONS

How They Met Themselves

‘How They Met Themselves’ is Philippa Hawley’s second novel.

The world is smaller than you think. When Max encounters two young women at opposite ends of California, it’s all just a part of his travelling experience.

But nothing can prepare him for what he discovers when he returns to England. Some call it fate – others call it coincidence.

But whatever it is that drives our lives, Max is about to find out that our futures are all connected … and it isn’t all good.

Publisher’s Sysnopsis

About the Author

Philippa Hawley lives inWivenhoe, where she worked as the local GP for over 27 years. She and her husband Clinton Hale have two grown-up children.

Now retired,  Philippa spends her time reading, walking, travelling and writing.  She is an active member of two local writing groups, and finds inspiration for her books in her travels and medical experience.  In April 2013 Philippa published ‘There’s No Sea in Salford’, her first novel with Wivenbooks.  ‘How They Met Themselves’ is her second novel.

Book and cover design are by Catherine Dodds.

To order the book, priced at £7.99 call us on 01206 824050 or send an email.

Imaginations: 50 Years of Essex Sociology

Imaginations: Fifty years of Essex Sociology is a major new book about the department by Prof Ken Plummer.

The Sociology Department at the University of Essex was one of the founding departments and is a leading international sociology department.

Through fifty contributions from past and present, the students and lecturers in the department tell the story of its history, its ideas and its community.

It provides an unusual insight into the workings of a British university department as well as the shape of modern British sociology.

Editor of the book Emeritus Professor of Sociology Ken Plummer held many roles in the department between 1975 and 2006 when he retired. His work is widely published, and you can find out more on his website.

Praise for the Book

Comedy of Masculinity

by Adrian May

Wivenbooks are delighted to announce the forthcoming publication of Adrian May’s ‘Comedy of Masculinity’, which was previewed in an uproarious performance at ‘Bookshop Unplugged’ last summer.

‘Comedy of Masculinity’ takes a wry look at men and masculinity in songs and poems, from ‘all men are bastards’ to ‘sometimes it’s hard to be a bloke’ to the plea to ‘tenderise not genderise’ and beyond.

About the Author

Adrian has published two collections of poems and lyrics with Wivenbooks, An Essex Attitude’ and ‘Ballads of Bohemian Essex’  – which are in stock at the Wivenhoe Bookshop – please see details below.

Adrian’s background is as a songwriter, lyricist and performer on the English folk music circuit, and he has made several albums, both solo and with bands. Songs of his have been recorded by such artists as June Tabor and Adele Anderson of Fascinating Aida. In addition he has published poems, fiction and many articles on music and Creative Writing, which he currently teaches at the University of Essex.

The book cover is designed by artist Hilary Lazell.

To order the book, price £12, call us on 01206 824050 or order by email

The Well-tempered Lute: Poems from Poland’s Golden Age

 Selected, translated and introduced by Anita Jones Debska.

The ‘father of Polish poetry’, Jan Kochanowski (1530-84), dreamed that even ‘the English, dwellers of a different world’ should know of him, but he and the galaxy of poets who followed him are still little known to English-speaking readers.

This anthology of verse translations introduces 17 highly individual poets from the golden age of Polish humanistic culture in the 16^th and 17^thcenturies.  Their poems are close in spirit to those written by the English Elizabethan and metaphysical poets and as varied.

This selection includes witty ‘trifles’ to entertain, anguished sonnets on the strivings of the soul, poems of love both passionate and ironical, and calm meditations on the mutability of all things.

The book includes brief introductions to the various poets and is lavishly illustrated with prints from the period and original artwork by Rita Mari Schaeper, who also designed the cover.

‘The Well-tempered Lute’ follows on from the success of Anita’s previous book ‘Migrant Birds’, her translation of the poetry of Adam Mickiewicz, Poland’s best known poet, which was also published by Wivenbooks. Full details below.

To order the book, price £8, call us on 01206 824050 or order by email

Migrant Birds: poems by Adam Mickiewicz

Translated by Anita Debska

Adam Mickiewicz (1798-1855), national bard in the 19th century struggle for Polish independence, is still Poland’s best-known poet. His early poetry initiated Polish romanticism, and his own biography reads like a story of the archetypal romantic.