{"title":"Oliver Darkshire","description":"\u003cp\u003eWelcome to the world of Oliver Darkshire, an enchanting author whose work captivates readers with vivid storytelling and imaginative narratives. Delve into the lively realms of Sci-Fi \u0026amp; Fantasy, as well as intimate Biography \u0026amp; Memoir genres, through his intriguing books.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAmong Darkshire's creations, \u003cem\u003eIsabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil\u003c\/em\u003e promises an exhilarating journey filled with fantasy and suspense, where readers encounter a world brimming with magic and mystery. This book is ideal for anyone seeking an escape into the fantastical, complete with rich characters and a gripping plot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn contrast, \u003cem\u003eOnce Upon a Tome\u003c\/em\u003e invites readers into the author's personal experiences, offering a delightful memoir infused with wit and wisdom. It provides a fascinating glimpse into the life of an author, perfect for those curious about the inner workings of storytelling and the literary world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eExplore Oliver Darkshire's collection and let his words transport you to places beyond imagination and reflection on the intricacies of life.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"once-upon-a-tome","title":"Once Upon a Tome","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWelcome to Sotheran's, the oldest, most bonkers bookshop in the country, with its bizarre clientele, suspicious cupboards, unlabelled keys, poisoned books, some things that aren't even books, and deeply eccentric staff. Think \u003cem\u003eDiary of a Bookseller\u003c\/em\u003e but with quite a lot more Bernard Black.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSome years ago, Oliver Darkshire stepped into the hushed interior of Henry Sotheran Ltd on Sackville Street (est. 1761) to interview for their bookselling apprenticeship, a decision which has bedevilled him ever since. He'd intended to stay for a year before launching into some less dusty, better remunerated career. Unfortunately for him, the alluring smell of old books and the temptation of a management-approved afternoon nap proved irresistible. Soon he was balancing teetering stacks of first editions, fending off nonagenarian widows with a ten-foot pole and trying not to upset the store's resident ghost (the late Mr Sotheran had unfinished business when he was hit by that tram).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor while Sotheran's might be a treasure trove of literary delights, it sings a siren song to eccentrics. There are not only colleagues whose tastes in rare items range from the inspired to the mildly dangerous, but also zealous collectors seeking knowledge, curios, or simply someone with whom to hold a four-hour conversation about books bound in human skin.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBy turns unhinged and earnestly dog-eared, \u003cem\u003eOnce Upon a Tome\u003c\/em\u003e is the rather colourful story of life in one of the world's oldest bookshops and a love letter to the benign, unruly world of antiquarian bookselling, where to be uncommon or strange is the best possible compliment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45692310192364,"sku":"9781529177121","price":26.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781529177121.jpg?v=1725556391"},{"product_id":"isabella-nagg-and-the-pot-of-basil-by-oliver-darkshire-9781399743846","title":"Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eBooks can change lives. Magic books can change everything.\u003c\/b\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn a tiny, miserable farm on the edge of the tiny, miserable village of East Grasby, Isabella Nagg is trying to get on with her equally tiny and miserable existence. Dividing her time between enduring her feckless husband, inadequately caring for the farm's strange collection of animals, cooking up 'scrunge', and crooning over her treasured pot of basil, Isabella can't help but think that there might be something more to life. So, while she's initially aghast when Mr. Nagg comes home with a spell book purloined from the local wizard, she soon starts to think: what harm could a little magic do?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs Isabella embarks on a journey of self-discovery with a grouchy cat-like companion, Darkshire's imagination runs wild, plunging readers into a delightfully deranged world full of enchantment, folklore, and an entrepreneurial villain running a magical Ponzi scheme.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCosy, full of wit and Pratchett-ian footnotes, \u003ci\u003eIsabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil\u003c\/i\u003e is a book for those who can't help but find magic even in the oddest and most baffling circumstances; a story about claiming a new life and finding oneself - and also goblins, capitalism, and sorcery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46703844098284,"sku":"9781399743846","price":37.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9806523482686.jpg?v=1753961174"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/oliver-darkshire.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}