Watkins Books (also Watkins Media)[1] is London's oldest esoteric bookshop. It specialises in esotericism, mysticism, occultism, oriental religion and contemporary spirituality.[2] Watkins Media, the publishing side of the business is owned by entrepreneur Etan Ilfeld.[3] It publishes books and owns a number publishing imprints.
History edit
The book store was established by John M. Watkins, a friend of Madame Blavatsky, in 1897 at 26 Charing Cross. John Watkins had already been selling books via a catalogue which he began publishing in March 1893.[4] The first biography of Aleister Crowley recounts a story of Crowley making all of the books in Watkins magically disappear and reappear.[5]
Geoffrey Watkins (1896–1981) owned and managed the store after his father.[6] He was also an author[7] and publisher
The company first publishing Carl Gustav Jung's 1925 edition of Septem Sermones ad Mortuos.[8]
In 1901, Watkins Books moved to 21 Cecil Court where it has been continuously trading ever since. It publishes a magazine called the Watkins' Mind Body Spirit magazine, which has featured leading authors from mind-body-spirit and esoteric fields. Watkins Books has been owned by Etan Ilfeld since March 2010.[9][10] Since then, a new website has been launched, and the store regularly hosts book launches and signings.
Awards edit
Watkins publishes an annual list of "the 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People," which is usually featured in the spring issue of Watkins' Mind Body Spirit magazine.[11] The main factors used to compile the list are that the person has to be alive and has to have made a unique and spiritual contribution on a global scale.
Imprints edit
Watkins Media owns a number of publishing imprints. In 2014, it launch the Repeater Books imprints with some former founders of Zero Books.[1] Collective Ink (formerly John Hunt Publishing) was brought by Watkins Media in October 2021.
Current imprints edit
- Angry Robot[12]
- Collective Ink
- Nourish
- Repeater Books[13]
- Zero Books
References edit
- ^ a b Whitaker-Jones |, Laura. "U.K. Publishing Spotlight: For Watkins Media, No Niche Is Too Small". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ "US film producer supplies the magic to save occult bookshop". West End Extra. 2 April 2010. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
- ^ "Watkins to launch Repeater imprint in January | The Bookseller". www.thebookseller.com. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
- ^ Watkins Review, Issue 24, June 2010
- ^ Page 268, 1952 edition of The Great Beast by John Symonds
- ^ "Geoffrey Watkins: Information from". Answers.com. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
- ^ "Watkins, Geoffrey (1896-1981)". Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology. The Gale Group Inc./Encyclopedia.com. 2001. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
- ^ "The automatic writings of Jung". Philipcoppens.com. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
- ^ Gallagher, Victoria (15 March 2010). "Deal agreed over Watkins Books". The Bookseller. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
- ^ Kindred Spirit, Issue 109
- ^ "WatkinsMagazine.com".
- ^ "Osprey sells off Watkins, Angry Robot and Nourish | The Bookseller". www.thebookseller.com. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
- ^ "Introducing Repeater Books". 6 November 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
External links edit
