In the library of Chatsworth, the seat of the Dukes of Devonshire, are two doors disguised as shelves of books. The second one was created in the 1960s during renovations, and 28 book-backs were made by binders Sangorski & Sutcliffe, for titles like Reduced to the Ranks by D. Motion, Second Helpings by O. Twist, Dipsomania by Mustafa Swig, and The Battle of the Bulge by Lord Slim. The last volume was Book Titles by Patrick Leigh Fermor, in honour of the inventor of the titles. They were suggested to the Duchess in a letter from Fermor from Euboea dated February 1964. This was published in 2008 ( In Tearing Haste) by John Murray. Among PLF's other candidates were:
Knicknacks by Paddy Whack
Nancy Mitford & her Circle by Juno french
Minor Rodents by Aygood-Mausser
A Tommy in the Harem by Private Parts
First Steps in Rubber by Wellington
Flags of the Nations by Bunting
Will Yam Make Peace? by Thackeray
Consenting Adults by Abel N Willing
Where the Hormones...by Christine Keeler
Venus Observed by I. Sawyer
Intuition by Ivor Hunch
Alien Corn by Dr. Scholl
March Days by A. Hare
Creme de la Creme by Devonshire
K-K-Katie by Kay Stammers
On the Spot by Leo Pard
Humble Pie by J.Horner
The Shaking Hand by Master Bates
Ruined Honeymoon by Mary Fitzgerald and Gerald
Fitzgeorge
The Day After Gomorrah by Bishop of Sodor and Man
Call me X by Anon
Pardon Me by Belcher
Weather in the Streets by Omega Losches
Haute Cuisine by the Aga Khan
The Babies Revenge by Norah Titsoff
The Cat's Revenge by Claude Balls
Patrick Leigh Fermor confesses he has a soft spot for the rude ones 'though they're not your style.' Might follow up with more garnered from books, recommendations and the web. The most famous is, of course, Rusty Bedsprings by I.P Knightly. There are manufacturers of dummy bookshelves, mostly providing classic titles like the two vols below by one Ernest Hemmingway...
The Hemmingway binding is a pretty bad mistake. Meanwhile Here's a few more:---
ReplyDeleteYou’re Kidding! by Shirley U. Jest
Transportation in the Middle Ages by Orson Cart
The Effects of Alcohol by Sir Osis of Liver
Songs From “South Pacific” by Sam and Janet Evening
Broken Window by Eva Brick
Ambulance Driving by Adam Muhway
No more please!
Fancy a Lift by Fiona Jag Fine
What about:
ReplyDeleteHow to get rich quickly by Robin Banks
Exploring old Hong Kong by Rick Shaw
My unhappy life by Miss Fortune
Self Abuse by Wayne King.
etc