The Quince Tree Press was established by J L Carr as the publishing house for a series of ‘Pocket Books’: small selections from the great poets (but exclusively those out of copyright); idiosyncratic Dictionaries, small Histories & volumes of Fabled Saying. Later a series of Wood Engravers, contemporary or near contemporary were added. The hand-drawn, poster-sized historical County Maps completed the early productions which together funded the self-employment which, in part, enabled the novels to be written.  This small publishing firm continues as a family affair.

The first six novels were initially published by conventional publishing houses, but as they went out of print the rights were reacquired and QTP editions produced. The last two novels ‘H&F’ and ‘Hetty’ were produced entirely in-house. An author’s desire to be independent of the frustrations and irritations of the conventional publishing world was probably the incentive, but it developed to a positive pleasure in the design and production of a volume complementary to the text - there is a degree of unconventionality about all the productions.

All the novels are in print and available direct from the QTP

Amongst the Novels are 'A Month in the Country' which won the Guardian Fiction Prize in 1980 and was also shortlisted that year for the Booker Prize.  It has had many editions and featured more than once as a BBC Radio 4 'Book at Bedtime'.  'The Battle of Pollocks Crossing' was also shortlisted for the Booker Prize.

The Pocket Books were created initially as an economical introduction to many a great poet.  Some of the authors include Jane Austen, William Blake, Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Bunyan, Donne and Rupert Brooke.  The idiosyncratic Dictionaries extended the range, and the Wood-Engravers, mostly contemporary, reflect one of our great interests.  All the Pocket Books have differently coloured card covers, 16 pages, a uniform size (approx 5" by 3.5" but gradually becoming standard A6) and have been described as "hovering between a greeting and a present".  They were also recommended for "reading in cold bedrooms, and/or in the bath".  They fit into a standard letter sized envelope and make a lasting alternative to a birthday card.

The County Maps are an architectural / historical / literary / pictorial curiosity "designed for framing and to stimulate conversation".

We also have available hardback copies of

'The Last Englishman'

a biography of J.L.Carr written by Byron Rogers and published by the Aurum Press in 2003

& the extended hardback version of

'Carr's Dictionary of Extra-ordinary Cricketers'

published in association with the Aurum Press

The Quince Tree Press^© Robert Carr 2003