The Literary Lion is a wonderful, filled to the brim, bookshop that delights me every time I walk through the doors. It reminds me a bit of Shakespeare & Co in Paris with the narrow rooms, winding hallways, and abundance of books.  The significant difference is that it’s in Stephenville, TX, a small university town in the rolling, wooded hills of dairy country.

The store’s emblem reminds me of the reading winged lion that you see everywhere in Venice.  Sarah, the owner, says that the name came with the bookstore when she bought it many years ago.  Her fiance, Shawn, manages the used paperback bookstore across the street, The Literary Lion Too.

The bookstore stands a block away from the pretty courthouse in the town square.  Above the store name you can see that the building was built in 1905, back when the streets of Stephenville were simply dirt and filled with horse drawn buggies.

The Literary Lion occupies both stories of the narrow building and the lower floor is a maze of enticing  nooks.  The upper floor is entirely devoted to a huge private collection of Texas related materials in the Lone Star Library.  It’s a favorite haunt for history and genealogy researchers.

Perhaps the best description of the bookshop is that provided by Sarah, comfortably cluttered.

The day of my visit, Sarah had received a large shipment of books and was in the midst of organizing and shelving.  I’ve said it before, sometimes the best books are in the stacks on the floor.

There are a variety of seating options throughout bookshop, but this one is the most unique.

According to Sarah, the hardest shelf to keep stocked is the classic Greek and Latin shelf.  She reads and teaches Latin and several nearby residents have learned Greek.

There aren’t many indie bookstores left in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area and certainly few with the personality of  The Literary Lion.  It’s a rare jewel in a small town.

Enjoy,

JT

Although it’s completely unrealistic, I would love to own a castle library and, of course, the accompanying castle.  There is just something so romantic and appealing to these structures whether they’re called a castle, chateau, palace, or another name.  These libraries are as stunning as the castles themselves.

Chateau de Beloeil Library.  Image:  Kat…

Chateau de Beloeil is considered the most beautiful castle in Belgium.  Image:  Kat…

Palace of Fontainebleau Library.  Image:  Kevin Liao

The Palace of Fontainebleau, outside of Paris was rebuilt by King Francois I as his residence in the 16th century.  The chateau was also the location of Napoleon’s abdication.  Image:  Greg Emel

Chateau de Chantilly Library.  Image:  ShironekoEuro

Chateau de Chantilly houses one of the world’s most important illuminated manuscripts, Très Riches Heures. Image:  Guillaume Cattiaux

Wedding Ceremony from Très Riches Heures.  Image: Wikipedia

Betliar Manor House Library.  Image:  Jurjen van Enter

Portions of the Betliar Manor House in Slovakia date to the mid-15th century. Image:  Matus Kalisky

Enjoy the castles,

JT