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Undaunted - New Bookshop in Oxford

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Undaunted -  New Bookshop in Oxford  By Sophie Duncan Photographs by Elizabeth Perry Summertown has been without its own book shop since 2018 when the Book House, on South Parade, closed its doors after nearly 40 years of service. Sadly the impact of Kindle and Amazon proved a fatal blow for this much loved establishment. How will Daunt, which opened to the public on August 1 this year survive, where the Book House failed?   When the first Daunt bookshop opened in Marylebone in 1990 it was a specialist travel book shop. There are now several branches and most recently Daunt, Oxford.  The travel and place-specific theme still informs the layout of every Daunt bookshop.  “Opening this summer when people have had difficulties with their holiday plans has been timely for a bookshop with a travel theme,” reflects Elizabeth Perry, the shop’s manager.   “Customers that would have been looking for books to take on holiday, are instead holidaying vicariously through...
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Charles the first and the English civil war in Oxford

Charles the first and the English civil war in Oxford It is generally known that King of England Charles I was extravagant, a patron of the Arts and that he had his head removed. Less is known about his last years in Oxford. His soldiers, supporters and for a short period his French wife Henrietta Maria retreated to the city before losing the war with Parliament. He held court at Christchurch College, borrowed silver from colleges to mint his own coinage and summoned Parliament to Christchurch’s dining hall. Charles I succeeded to the throne in 1625. In the same year he married French Princess, Henriette Maria. Anticipating expensive tastes and concerned that his bride might persuade him to fund French wars Parliament took the precaution of withholding from Charles permission to collect for himself customs duties and other taxes. Believing in the divine right of kings Charles collected the taxes illegally. In 1629, annoyed by its complaints, Charles dismissed Parliamen...
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