Housmans radical booksellers since 1945

Welcome to the website of London's premier radical bookshop!

Housmans specialises in books and periodicals of radical interest and progressive politics.

Our stock includes:

• Wide coverage of politics, political theory, peace studies, and world current affairs.
• Material about - and in support of - campaigns for peace, the environment, human rights, sexual freedom, equitable and sustainable development, and much more.
• General fiction and non-fiction.
• Many hard-to-find radical publications - and we can obtain most books to order within a few days.

Student discounts: We now offer a 10% discount to students, with appropriate identification, on almost everything in the shop - including stationery. See the Books page for fuller details of this offer.

For more details of our range of stock, and of the services we offer, please see the Books and Booklists sections of this website, particularly the Special Offers. And please note that most sections of our radical book stock are supplemented by a large assortment of pamphlets.

Housmans publishes an annual Peace Diary, including a unique World Peace Directory. Copies sent direct from Housmans will be supplied post free to any address in the world.

We also have t-shirts, an exciting and unusual range of greetings cards and postcards, as well as postage stamps, badges, posters, diaries, fair trade coffee, cannabis ice tea (totally legal) and a fully-stocked stationery department.

And we have the largest range of radical newsletters, newspapers and magazines of any shop in Britain - with editions of well over 200 different titles regularly in stock (and many others irregularly). These publications represent a vast diversity of (and within!) peace campaigns, left movements and parties, civil rights groups, environmental organisations, sexual freedom campaigns, secularist groups, anarchist networks, third world campaigns, alternative lifestyle movements, anti-globalisation and anti-capitalist groups, solidarity campaigns ... and much else.

We are committed to protecting the environment, and recycle where possible. So when you buy your printer cartridges from our stationery section (or even if you don't!), we are happy to take your used cartridges and to get them recycled - so if you have any, drop them in to the shop.

Please visit us if you can - we're at 5 Caledonian Road, Kings Cross, London N1 (tel 020-7837 4473). The shop is within one block of 6 of the 12 London Underground lines (Kings Cross / St Pancras station), as well as being convenient for countless bus routes and several main line railway stations (see Contact page for map and directions).

Access: Most of Housmans Bookshop has level access from the street, but one section is up two steps. Housmans staff are happy to provide whatever help they can to anyone who has difficulty negotiating the steps.

Our basement is home to Porcupine second-hand books - specialists in Philosophy, Politics, History and Psychology.

Besides housing London's oldest independent political bookshop, our historic building in Caledonian Road is also home to our sibling company, the pacifist monthly Peace News, along with War Resisters' International and other peace and radical organisations.

We have regular events in the shop - see the events page. For details of Anne Aylor's creative writing course please see www.anneaylor.co.uk

The World Peace Directory, included in the Housmans Peace Diary each year, includes contact details of almost 2000 national and international peace, green, and human rights organisations around the world. (For more details of the full World Peace Database, from which the directory in the Peace Diary is taken, please contact the Housmans Peace Resource Project - e-mail worldpeace@gn.apc.org.)

We produce a monthly Newsletter, if you would like it e-mailed to you please contact andy@housmans.com.

Orders can be placed on this website via paypal (if you have a credit, debit, or charge card). Also, if you can't come into the shop in person, we are happy to accept orders by post, phone, fax, or e-mail (orders@housmans.com). See the Books page for details.

Volunteers: Housmans welcomes intelligent, reliable and enthusiastic volunteers with relevant skills, to help in its work. Which skills are "relevant" changes over time, but we can often use fairly routine help in and around the shop itself, or on bookstalls at events; we sometimes need technical computer skills, or help with the production of publications. In return there are occasional perks, and the chance to improve your own skills and experience - not to mention the satisfaction of supporting the last major non-sectarian radical bookshop in London.

We are open Monday to Friday 10am to 6.30pm, Saturday 10am to 6pm, and closed on Sunday. We sometimes have extra opening hours for special events - or just because we are able to - so ring us to check if you ever want to visit after our "official" closing time.

Please note that we welcome donations to support the work of Housmans. Trying to promote and supply peace movement and other varieties of radical literature is not the most commercially viable activity - and that's even without taking into account the notoriously unfair competition that all small independent shops face from the major high street bookshop chains. To support our work, you can click below and use your credit/debit/charge card, or you can send us a cheque made payable to Housmans. We also welcome donations of any of your unwanted books - we can often find them a home with a new generation of activists (and raise a little money for the shop at the same time).

Just in case you didn't know...

Laurence Housman (July 18, 1865 - February 20, 1959) was an English playwright. The younger brother of the poet A. E. Housman, Laurence Housman was born in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. After education at local schools, he went with his sister Clemence to study art at the Lambert School of Art and the Royal College of Art in London. He first worked as a book illustrator with London publishers, illustrating such works as Christina Rossetti's Goblin Market (1893) and Jane Barlow's The End of Elfintown (1894) in an intricate Art Nouveau style. But he also wrote and published several volumes of poetry in the 1890s, and when his eyesight began to fail, he turned more and more to writing. He lived his last 35 years with his sister in Street, Somerset. Housman's first success came with the novel An Englishwoman's Love-letters (1900), published anonymously. He then turned to drama with Bethlehem (1902) and was to become best known and remembered as a playwright. His other dramatic works include Angels and Ministers (1921), Little Plays of St. Francis (1922) and Victoria Regina (1934) which was even staged on Broadway. Some of Housman's plays caused scandals because of depiction of biblical characters and living members of the Royal House on stage, and many of them were only played privately until the subsequent relaxation of theatrical censorship. Housman was also a committed socialist and pacifist and founded the Men's League for Women's Suffrage with Henry Nevinson and Henry Brailsford in 1907. A prolific writer with around a hundred published works to his name, his output covers all kinds of literature from socialist and pacifist pamphlets to children's stories. He wrote an autobiography, The Unexpected Years (1937), and edited his brother's posthumous poems. In 1945 he opened Housmans Bookshop,in Shaftesbury Avenue, London, founded in his honour by the Peace Pledge Union, of which he was a Sponsor. In 1959, shortly after his death, the shop removed to 5 Caledonian Road, London N1 9DX, where it is still a prime source of literature on pacifism and other radical approaches to living.

 

* support and connect nonviolent and anti-militarist movements
* provide a forum for such movements to develop common perspectives
* take up issues suitable for campaigning
* promote nonviolent, antimilitarist and pacifist analyses and strategies
* stimulate thinking about the revolutionary implications of nonviolence

 War Resisters' International

War Resisters' International or WRI is an international anti-war organization with members and affiliates in over thirty countries. Its headquarters are in London, UK.

History :Founded in Bilthoven, Netherlands in 1921, WRI adopted the broken rifle as its symbol and a founding declaration that has remained unchanged:

“ War is a crime against humanity. I am therefore determined not to support any kind of war and to strive for the removal of all causes of war. ”

Many of its founders had been involved in the resistance to the First World War: its first Secretary, Herbert Runham Brown, had spent two and a half years in a British prison as a conscientious objector. Witnessing the collapse of the policy of an "international general strike against war" (adopted by the Socialist International), they decided to launch an anti-militarist international. Two years later, in 1923, Tracey Mygatte, Frances Witherspoon, Jessie Wallace Hughan, and John Haynes Holmes founded the War Resisters League in the United States.

WRI members refuse to support war or preparations for war. Their conscientious objection to war takes various forms. Some refuse to engage in military service. Others refuse to pay taxes that support the military. Still others refuse to work for military contractors. WRI has been involved in movements that have transformed these individual acts of personal witness into collective acts of noncooperation, such as draft card burnings in the U.S. during the Vietnam War. Each year on December 1, Prisoners for Peace Day, WRI produces an Honour Roll of those imprisoned for nonviolent action against war preparations. If the name gives an image of a network mainly of young men resisting military service, the reality is much more varied.

WRI cuts across age groups, drawing on the experience of several generations of organizers of nonviolent action and from a variety of cultures. In addition, it has organized four international women's conferences and has an active Women's Working Group. WRI members also are fundamentally committed to promoting nonviolent action as a form of social struggle. WRI has provided training in nonviolence, held international conferences on themes such as "Nonviolent Struggle and Social Defense" and "Feminism and Nonviolence," and organized nonviolent action campaigns.

Within the WRI network, from the Dutch anarchist Bart de Ligt and the U.S. Quaker Richard Gregg onwards, there have always been many people interested in nonviolent struggle as a means of social change. This, together with the organization's analysis that the injustice of colonialism was a cause of war, led to a keen interest in the Indian independence struggle and, later, close working relationships with sections of the Gandhian movement. Peak periods of activity in WRI occurred in the 1930s, the 1960s (with the first wave of antinuclear campaigning, the U.S. civil rights movement, and the international anti-Vietnam War movement), and the 1980s. In the 1930s and 1940s, WRI helped to rescue people from persecution under Francisco Franco and under the Nazis and found them safe homes with WRI members in other countries. It paid particular attention to the plight of Spanish orphans, children separated from their parents, and widows (see, for example, José Brocca). Under Nazi occupation, Dutch, Danish, and Norwegian members of WRI played prominent roles in organizing nonviolent resistance to frustrate the occupiers' plans and to deny them the fruits of their aggression. (The secretary of the Dutch section was executed by firing squad in December 1944 for printing illegal papers and pamphlets.)

During the Cold War, WRI consistently sought out war resisters in the Soviet bloc: first individuals, and later groups. After the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia, WRI organized protest demonstrations in four Warsaw Pact capitals. In the 1980s, it adopted the idea of personal peace treaties: peace activists from the Eastern and Western blocs declared their loyalty to the values they held in common and not to the machinery of state and military that divided them; they then vowed to support each other in their struggle against the militarism of their respective blocs. Other actions were less public, such as private visits where material or information was smuggled in or out of a country.

There also have been many testing times for WRI. During the Spanish Civil War, the Second World War, the Vietnam War, and the 1990s' wars in the Balkans, peace movements have found themselves divided. Faced by what they see as a defensive war against a brutal aggressor, many individuals have questioned their commitment not to support any kind of war. WRI has tried to develop nonviolent strategies for effective action in such situations, trying to pose another way, an alternative between submission and taking up arms, and to find means of breaking the cycle of war and violence. In 1971, when Pakistani troops were blockading what was then East Pakistan, WRI launched Operation Omega to Bangladesh, a nonviolent direct action project to take in relief supplies.

More recently, the International Deserters Network associated with WRI has offered support for people resisting the Gulf War of 1991 and, on a much larger scale, the wars in the Balkans, where it was also engaged with several other peace organizations in an experiment in international nonviolent intervention, the Balkan Peace Team, working for human rights and in support of civil society initiatives in nonviolent conflict resolution. [edit] Organization War Resisters' International is a network of member groups. A list of member groups can be found below or (with addresses and weblinks) on the WRI website [1]. An international conference takes place at least once every four years (for historical reasons, conferences since 1994 have been referred to as "triennials" despite departing from that frequency). The chair is elected by postal vote in advance of the international conference.

Since the office of chair was created in 1926, chairs have been:

* Fenner Brockway (1926-1934)

* Lord Ponsonby (1934-1937)

* George Lansbury (1937-1940)

* Herbert Runham Brown (1946-1949)

* Harold Bing (1949-1966)

* Michael Randle (1966-1973)

* Devi Prasad (1973-1975)

* Myrtle Solomon (1975-1986)

* David McReynolds (1986-1988)

* Narayan Desai (1989-1991)

* Jørgen Johansen (1991-1998)

* Joanne Sheehan (1998-2006)

* Howard Clark (2006- )

* NfP is an organisation-based network, most members are groups who are working for peace, disarmament, or similar. Individual members are welcome, but we do not involve ourselves in organising actions or events (apart from our annual meeting - held in the spring) so if you are an individual who wishes to get involved in peace work, you may wish to find out first if there is a group in your area you could join. Feel free to contact NfP for details.

* Our members are wide-ranging; from the religious peace organisations to the National Secular Society; local and regional CND groups, small local peace groups, larger national campaigning organisations such as Campaign Against Arms Trade, a Development Education Centre, organisations actively working in peace-making initiatives such as Peaceworkers UK, Peace Brigades International and Scottish Centre for Nonviolence, older well-established organisations such as Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom and newly formed groups such as Peace School and Centre of Cultures.

* We aim to keep members in touch with each other - through a regular newsletter or email and through our website.

* We aim to act as a contact point for queries about peace organisations, peace education and training, actions, vigils, and demonstrations, especially in times of crisis or emergency.

* Members can have their leaflets and newsletters displayed at conferences – NfP will on occasions attend major conferences and run a stall, or will distribute a few leaflets on chairs at meetings! Leaflets can also be enclosed with our mailings. Contact the office for details.

We are people of conscience-volunteers, teachers, veterans, social workers, artists, health care professionals, trades people and people of faith-who, in the tradition of Mohandas Gandhi, practice and advocate nonviolence in the pursuit of social justice. As nonviolent war resisters, we oppose the development, storage, sale, and use of weapons of mass destruction by anyone or any country, be they nuclear, chemical, biological, or economic weapons. Many of us refuse to pay taxes for war.

We have seen that the US/UK invasion and occupation of Iraq violates human rights, the UN charter, and international law. It plunders the land and resources of Iraq, puts civilians and soldiers in mortal danger, and fills the pockets of multi-national corporations. It has inevitably led to coercive tactics such as raiding of homes, destruction of farms, arbitrary arrests, imprisonment without due process, torture of detainees, kidnapping of families, extortion, use of military force to suppress popular demonstrations, and murder of civilians. Voices in the Wilderness advocates complete withdrawal of US/UK troops from Iraq and calls on the US and UK governments not to impede an election process which would facilitate Iraqi sovereignty. In response to this occupation we campaign to educate, act and live in resistance to militarism. We advocate interdependent ways of life, rooted in simplicity, service and sharing of resources.

Voices in the Wilderness organized Iraq Peace Team delegations to live alongside ordinary Iraqis during the massive bombardment of Operation Shock and Awe. Convinced that “where you stand determines what you see and how you live,” VitW continues its efforts to educate people in the United States and abroad about the consequences of US militarism. Our current campaign focuses on the need to “spotlight Iraq.” By telling the truth about this war, we hope to help prevent future wars. Further, we seek to connect with and educate ourselves about people who live in other countries threatened by US war.

Dedicated to nonviolently resist the roots of war, campaign members challenge military recruitment, corporate war profiteering, and elements of contemporary culture that wage low intensity warfare, continually, against the biological diversity of our planet and against weaker countries whose resources are exploited to maintain our western consumer lifestyles. We advocate simple living, sharing of resources, service, reverence for all of life, creative education and nonviolent direct action for peace.

Voices in the Wilderness functions as a network for nonviolent education and action: developing and practicing ways of nonviolent resistance. Vitw is committed to teaching peace in formal teaching and learning environments as well as through grassroots, non-traditional settings. We will travel anywhere, anytime, with or without a stipend to help foster education in communities that invite our members to speak about what they’ve seen and heard.

The destabilisation of global climate has become the very greatest threat to our planet and everyone on it – with the possible exception only of all-out war with modern weapons of mass-destruction. We do not know how much irreversible damage we have done already but we know that if we do not act now the effects will be many times more devastating still.

1/ The CCC exists to secure the action we need - at a local, national and, above all, international level - to minimise harmful climate change and the devastating impacts it will have. To that end the CCC seeks to raise awareness about the gravity and urgency of the threat from climate change and to influence those with the greatest power to take effective action to do so with the utmost speed and resolution. Where ignorance, short term greed and vested interests stand in the way of the action that is urgently needed, the CCC exists to fight against all of these things.

2/ In particular the CCC brings people together for street demonstrations, designed to get together the greatest number of people possible, and to create a mass movement to push for our goals.

3/ The CCC seeks a global solution to a global problem and aims to push for an international emissions reductions treaty that is both effective in preventing the catastrophic destabilisation of global climate and equitable in the means of so doing. To be effective such a treaty needs to secure such reductions in the global total of greenhouse gas emissions as are deemed by the broad consensus of qualified scientific opinion to be necessary to prevent harmful climate change. The CCC aims to campaign against those with the greatest responsibility for preventing or delaying the progress we urgently need towards an international climate treaty.

4/ The CCC recognises that the issue of the destabilisation of global climate has enormous implications in terms of social justice and global inequality. The damage to the earth’s atmosphere has so far been done mainly by the rich nations but it is the poorest who will suffer the greatest and most immediately. The CCC recognises that any solution to the problem must be as fair as possible, incorporating principles of social justice and not exacerbating global inequalities.

5/ The CCC aims to bring together as many people as possible who support our broad aims of pushing for urgent action on climate and reducing global emissions. The CCC does not therefore campaign on the important but more detailed questions of how best to achieve these emission reductions and recognises that supporters will have different and deeply held views on these issues.

Netuxo works to provide low-cost IT solutions and support services to small groups, NGOs and business. We provide a wide range of services and deliver high-quality, on time, and at manageable prices. We can offer everything from webhosting to software development and - with our detailed understanding of the hardware and networking challenges facing small groups - can provide tailored support contracts to help your work run as smoothly as possible.
How we work
Netuxo is registered as a limited company in England and Wales and our company rules define us as a workers' co-operative. This means that we work as a collective and without hierarchy. All the members of the co-operative are directors and employees (as well as, collectively, being the employer). It means we try to make decisions about the company (how we work, what work we do, future planning etc) together and without a "boss".
Our ethos
All the current directors come from within the peace movement and have a desire to help other small groups and businesses in utilising new technologies in a positive and beneficial way. At the core of our business is the desire to help generate positive change, both within our communities and further afield. This is why we specialise in providing services to radical NGOs, campaign groups and other co-operators. But don't panic! This doesn't mean we won't happily supply services to small businesses whose work is compatible with our ethos.
What we won't do

* work with anyone who promotes violence (against any species)
* work with exploitative businesses or anyone who works to support structural violence
* work for political parties

We also guarantee not to pass on any aspect of the data we hold about our clients to third parties without their explicit consent.

If, after cruising our site, you like the sound of what we do and how we do it, please get in touch to discuss your IT needs.
Useful links
Tantric Technolgies (Southampton-based technologies co-operative specialising in providing services to the UK co-operative community) http://www.tantric.co.uk/
Seven co-operative principles http://www.icof.co.uk/icom/principles.htm
Catalyst Collective (help UK housing and worker co-operatives register as companies) http://www.eco-action.org/catalyst/worker.html