SPONSOR


DESCRIPTION


  


INDIVIDUAL BOOKSELLER OF THE YEAR CAROLYNN BAIN


THE SHORTLIST


 WATERSTONES


 NOMAD BOOKS


 OMAHONYS


 THE BOUND


 BOOKHAUS


Megan Rees BOOK-ISH


Helen 


WONDERLAND BOOKSHOP


C


arolynn Bain’s remarkable work serves as a reminder of how bookselling is not just a commercial enterprise


but a powerful force for social justice and good. The founding of her Afrori Books shop in


Brighton was motivated by the lack of representa- tion of people like her and her children in books in Britain, and fuelled by anger at the murder of George Floyd. After crowdfunding and opening the shop in the teeth of a pandemic, Bain has been a genuine pioneer of bookselling. Many great independent bookshops sit right at the heart of their communities, but few have been so sorely needed and welcome as Afrori. As one customer testimonial put it: “The first time I entered Afrori Books I nearly cried. At last, a whole bookshop—not a shelf hidden away—that embraces and celebrates Black authors.” But Bain and her small team have created


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much more than a bookshop. Afrori is a safe space and a cultural hub for people to gather and buy books. An astonishing range of initia- tives has included a variety of book clubs and workshops, films and exhibitions with local cinemas and galleries, and a new Brighton Book Festival. Partnerships with charities, comm- unity groups and universities have led to more activities, and a pay-it-forward scheme opens access to books and events for refugees and others in need. There has even been a supper club to connect authors and readers. The judges were humbled by Bain’s excep-


tional achievements. “Carolynn has done life-affirming and absolutely essential work,” they said. “She saw a situation and was not just a voice: she acted. She so clearly believes in how books can influence society… What she has achieved and continues to do just blows you away.”


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