Praxis Books

Since 1992, Rebecca has run Praxis Books, a small press mainly dedicated to the reissue of the novels of Sabine Baring-Gould, as well as self-publishing a series of family memoirs.

. SBG was a great man, with a multitude of interests. Almost everything he did is relevant and inspiring today. His Appreciation Society (see Link below) is active and sociable. Annual gatherings in the autumn are always profoundly instructive and enjoyable. Praxis will also occasionally consider approaches from authors. The door is never completely closed, despite limited cash flow and unimpressive marketing performance…

Titles Available By Sabine Baring-Gould.

Nebo the Nailer. Nail-making in the Midlands was a major industry from the 17th to the 19th centuries. Then industrialisation threw the hand-made nails into jeopardy. This is a novel that shows the transitions and social disruptions that ensued, centred on romantic entanglements between two very different classes. £6.50. Available direct from Praxis Books.

Margery of Quether and other Strange and Curious Tales  A collection of short stories, published in magazines during Baring-Gould's lifetime. They have a theme of 'vampire' activity - draining the life force of a victim in order to give nourishment to the 'monster'. Great stuff! ISBN 978 09559517 18 £6.00

John Herring. One of Baring-Gould''s most popular novels, this is a long book, full of quirky observations of Devon life in 1812. The characters are perhaps a bit less extreme than in some of the books. The story is one of unrequited love, betrayal and misunderstandings, with a pretty gloomy ending. £12.50 post free. Order by email.

Through Flood and Flame Baring-Gould’s first full length novel, written shortly after his marriage, telling the story of his early courtship of his young millgirl wife. Early copies of this novel are exceedingly hard to find, because the author did his best to suppress and destroy the work not long after it was published. He wrote it in a few weeks, in the tradition of a ‘novel of suspense’. A gem of great interest. ISBN 0 9528420 1 7 £8.50 

Several other titles also available. 'Red Spider', 'Mehalah' 'Court Royal', 'Furze Bloom', 'Bladys of the Stewponey' and 'Guavas the Tinner'.

Family Memoirs

Wendy in Wartime. The story of Rebecca's aunt's her experiences of being widowed in 1942, and the quest for a new husband.

Clare Takes Charge. An account of the traumatic move of the Tope family from Cheshire to Devon in 1959, and how it was all down to Clare, the matriarch.

Sybil Survives. Based heavily on letters and diaries written by Rebecca's mother between 1965 and 1984, during which she suffered a degree of tyranny from her husband that would have destroyed many women.

Forever Friends. A revealing joint memoir written by Rebecca and her oldest friend Liz, spanning the years from 1959 to the present. 

Email rebeccatope@btinternet.com for further information.