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In 2018, Ian asked a Wigtown craftsman to make a book shelf, fashioned from elm wood and recycled whiskey barrels. Ian was inspired by Charles W. Eliot - President of Harvard and cousin of T.S. – who said that everything required for a complete, liberal education could fit on a shelf of books just five feet in length.
Then he took it to a local bookshop, where visitors dropped in to nominate their book of choice for his brand new shelf.
Buoyed by the success of this first outing, Ian had planned take the shelf on the road, but unfortunately Covid-19 and restrictions on our movements for safety reasons put paid to that plan.
Then, a new idea was born for a virtual shelf of sorts. What have people been reading in 2020 to help them through what has been a very tough year for so many? What books have brought solace and comfort to their lives along with humour, hope and perhaps a chance to learn? While movements have been severely restricted, books have offered a chance to escape, explore and journey far beyond the confines of our homes.

We’ve reached out to four local independent bookshops right across the UK; Leakey’s in Inverness, City Books in Hove, Little Acorns in Derry city and Seaways Books in Fishguard. We asked them to put us in touch with their readers to ask a simple question - what book would they choose for Ian’s Five Foot shelf?

Produced by Conor McKay

Music composed by The Bookshop Band