Hewett’s Books: A love of literature becomes a career
Luke Hewett’s path into the world of rare and antiquarian books began, as many do, with a love of reading. But it wasn’t until he studied English Literature at the University of Liverpool that his interest became a calling.
“I’ve always been a big reader, but it wasn’t until I was 18, when I started my English Literature degree, that I really got into the book scene,” he explains. “It lit the fire and sparked my passion for it.”
Starting Hewett’s Books
After graduating in 2022, Luke spent time working in a prominent online bookshop, where he honed his trade knowledge and developed the confidence to start his own business. He founded Hewett’s Books in the summer of 2023, joined the Provincial Booksellers Fairs Association (PBFA) in early 2024, and hasn’t looked back.
“It’s a trade where you’re always learning something new,” he says. “I’m sure booksellers who’ve been doing this for 50 years would still say the same. You meet other dealers, collectors, and passionate readers — you learn from every conversation, every catalogue, every fair.”
Life on the book fair circuit
Luke now exhibits regularly at PBFA book fairs across the country.
“The fairs have been brilliant — the support from other dealers, the opportunity to handle great books, and the chance to meet people who really care about them. The public are always intrigued. People love to see a beautiful book, pick it up, and learn all about it.”
Literary passions and specialisms
Luke’s specialist focus lies in 19th and 20th-century literature, with a particular interest in Irish fiction, decadent and working-class literature, and English mythology and curiosities.
“It’s what I enjoy reading and what I know most about,” he explains. “You get more joy out of cataloguing books you genuinely care about — and if you know them well, they’re easier to sell.”
More than just business
For Luke, selling books is about more than business.
“I strongly believe the role of the modern bookseller is to be an agent of culture rather than commerce. We are custodians, charged with preserving our literary history, and placing precious artifacts into the hands of appreciative individuals and institutions.”
A few favourite finds
That belief has already led to some remarkable discoveries. One of the books Luke remembers most fondly is a rare early collection of poetry by Dylan Thomas — a personal copy, miscatalogued at auction and bought as part of a larger lot.
“It was a real find. I knew what it was, and I was lucky no one else spotted it.”
Coming to the Bath Book Fair
Luke will be bringing his books to the Bath Book Fair this June — including a particularly unusual and striking piece: a 17th-century work by Thomas Burnet titled The Sacred Theory of the Earth.
“It’s a bit outside my usual area, but it’s fascinating,” he says. “The illustrations are extraordinary, and while the science has long been discredited, it gives a real insight into how people thought back then — how they wrestled with theology and the natural world.
“That’s what I love about books. They’re windows into the past. They show us the ideas, struggles and imaginations of earlier generations and how they shaped the world we live in today.”
Our next fair: Bath Book Fair
When: Friday 27 June (12pm–6pm) & Saturday 28 June (10am–4pm)
Where: Bath Pavilion, North Parade Road, Bathwick, Bath, BA2 4EU
Entry: Just £2