I didn’t really have plans to buy any more books until we moved into our very own house later this month. But since our landlords are selling the unit we live in now and had an open house on Sunday and we had to be out of the apartment, it just seemed like the right thing to do. I already told you about the haul from my favorite used bookstore in DC. But this haul came from my least favorite bookstore. In general their fiction section is no good, alphabetized to only the first letter of the author’s last name, and way over priced. I almost never buy anything there because a used paperback should not cost seven bucks. The pricing policy for paperbacks at this particular store is 1/2 off the cover price. So this means a used copy of something published at $15 is going to cost you $7.50, no matter how lame the copy or the book.
But as I was browsing I kept running into these Virago titles and something occurred to me. The Viragos (some published by The Dial Press) were published long enough ago that the original book prices were considerably less, in the six and seven dollar range. And half of those old prices is fantastically affordable.
I faced The Judge by Rebecca West forward in the one picture because we all know that the cover art is actually a portrait of Julia Strachey by Dora Carrington.
Award for favorite title goes to The Semi-Attached Couple and The Semi-Detached House. Apparently two novels published in the 1860s under the same cover here to amusing effect.
hogglestock 
That's a fantastic haul. I managed to grab a copy of Devoted Ladies on Bookmooch just the other day. I'm really looking forward to it.
LikeLike
Ooh, those look lovely. I've been hearing about Virago lately and have started looking for them at the library. It's great to learn about more female authors.
LikeLike
Nymeth: I don't know anything about it, so it will be a surprise for me. And hopefully a good one.
Carolyn: I am not sure I have had a bad experience with Virago. Even the ones I haven't particularly liked have been worth the effort.
LikeLike
Great haul! I haven't read any of the books but of course I've heard of them and I've read West, Keane and White but not the ones you have. I love Virago covers!
LikeLike
I'm sooooooo envious of those, as you know from my Virago blog I love Viragos. I've just read Summer will show and have Rhapsody waiting for me. I'm particularly envious however of Red Pottage which is on my wishlist. And the dial press ones are also rather handsome.
LikeLike
Thats a grat haul, they look really nice there all lined up, Im not jealous ;)
LikeLike
What a fantastic bargain you got yourself there. I always wonder at the reasoning of some stores when they sell very tattered paperback copies for such high prices. I love the Viragos. I can't wait to see how your shelves will look like when you've moved to your new place. :-)
LikeLike
I majorly recommend Red Pottage. What a lovely collection.
Hannah
LikeLike
The Emily Eden novels (Semi-Detached) are a great treat in store. Whenever I hear someone express regret that Jane Austen's oeuvre is so small, I inevitably point them towards Eden.
LikeLike
Mrs B: I have read a few by West. One I loved and one I thought was just okay.
Verity: Of course I thought of you the whole time I was pulling them off the shelves.
Jessica: I can't wait to line them up on my new shelves.
Mad Bibliophile: Me too!
Hannah: Good to know I stumbled upon some good titles.
Margaret: That is good to know because I knew nothing about them. How exciting.
LikeLike