Friday, March 9, 2012
Friday Video: The Story of 'Keep Calm & Carry On'
Friday, March 9, 2012
Susan reporting:
The slogan "Keep Calm and Carry On" today appears on t-shirts, bumperstickers, and coffee cups, and it's been adapted in countless other ways to promote everything from cupcakes to Bob Marley. I knew that the slogan and poster had originated in Great Britain during the Second World War, but I'd no idea of its story or true significance. This wonderful short video is also an understated advertisement for what has to be one of the most delightful bookstores in the U.K. To us here in America, where independent bookstores are closing at an alarming rate, this shop in an old train station truly looks like a reader's heaven.
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12 comments:
there are so many things that I completely LOVE about your blog. Great job to you both! I LOVED this post...but I have loved so very many of them. It was time that i tell you. Thank you for all the love and attention you give to this blog. It's wonderful.
Same in FRance. At every street corner in Paris you have a small bookstore and you can discuss with the book seller
Barter Books is on of my favourite shops-it is about 20 miles away.
Oh,I envy you Joanna! I am ready to hop on a plane...
Thanks 2NHG for this excellent find - a fascinating piece of history! - a great bookshop besides...
Deb
Thanks so much for posting this! It just made my day. I know where I will be gong when I next visit England.
I have gone all teary eyed! Hope I can get to that delightful bookstore on my next visit home.
Your blog is wonderful.
On a recent edition of the Antique Roadshow here in the UK, a lady turned up with the only stock of original Keep Calm and Carry on Posters. You might be interested to read an article in the paper about it.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2105518/Keep-calm-carry-Only-surviving-stash-original-iconic-poster-appears-Antiques-Roadshow.html
On Bargain Hunt this week, I saw two older contestants, WI women, say "Keep Calm and Carry On" about their non-success in this particular antique auction. It was magical.
Would love to visit this bookshop by the way. An old railway station? Brilliant.
We have Brit friends that have a summer home in Alnwick and they knew about Barter's and that I'd love it. I saw the posters, T-shirts, and mugs and I asked about them. They told me the story above from the video. I was enchanted. I bought all 3 mugs of the 3 poster designs. Then I bought the apron and coffee mug of the Keep Calm version. I went in there to try to find something of Jane Austen that I couldn't find in the US. I found 1 or 2 things but hardly remember the books I bought. I hope I get to go back there someday. I'm a first timer here and plan to subscribe. This looks like a fun place!
Dumb question that my 20 something can't answer for me: I want to receive your blog at my home e-mail address but I can't figure out how to get an identity so I can receive your posts by e-mail.
Barter Books is a fantastic place as is Alnwick (pronounced Annick). Harry Potter was filmed at Alnwick Castle and there is a fantastic Garden. Plus you are very near the beautiful Northumberland Coast. I want to go now
I'm so glad everyone is enjoying this video as much as I did. It's been all over the internet lately, but sometimes these things go viral for good reason!
Anonymous (and anyone else who wishes to receive blog posts daily): in the right hand column, directly below our smiling faces, you'll see a little place titled "Get Blog Updates via Email." Enter your email there, and you'll be directed to another box with one of those annoying jumbled-letter-anti-spam-things, but after that, you're home free. :)
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