Penguin is saying yes to Virginia Woolf and Margaret Atwood but no to the likes of James Joyce and Martin Amis as it prepares to open a bookshop in east London that will only sell books by women.
The pop-up store Like a Woman will be open from 5-9 March on Rivington Street in Shoreditch, to mark International Women’s Day and the centenary of the Representation of the People Act, which extended the women’s right to vote. The shop, which will stock books by more than 200 writers, will “celebrate the persistence of women who’ve fought for change: those who fight, rebel and shout #LikeAWoman”, according to Penguin.
Set up in partnership with Waterstones, the store will group titles by “the impact the author has had on culture, history or society”, with categories ranging from “Essential feminist reads”, to “Inspiring young readers”, “Women to watch” and “Changemakers”.
Authors will include children’s writers such as Malorie Blackman, Jacqueline Wilson and the creators of Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls, Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo. Literary names will include Kate Atkinson and Elif Shafak, shelved alongside classic authors from Anne Frank to Mary Wollstonecraft.
“Women’s voices being heard and taken seriously is key to achieving gender equality, and with the Like a Woman bookshop we’re making room for those voices to be elevated and celebrated,” said Penguin Random House creative manager Zainab Juma. “We’re creating a space where readers can look to incredible writers, activists and pioneers for the inspiration to go forward and make change like a woman.”
A series of literary events will be held at the shop, with proceeds to go to Solace Women’s Aid. Customers at the shop will also be able to choose to purchase books to donate to the charity, which provides support to survivors of domestic violence in London.
“To create a unique bookshop and event space that is dedicated to a full range of women’s voices, experiences and ideas is tremendously exciting,” said Waterstones festival manager Lucy Grainger.