Books about Lincolnshire Kay Books

Welcome to Kay Books

COVID-19 - updated 31st December 2020.

Please note that the many of the books on our website will be sent out from Guernsey - the first place in the British Isles to be without any active Covid-19 cases. Currently we have just five known cases (who are all self-isolating correctly) who have been found through testing and track and trace but Guernsey remains free of any 'seeding' in the community. This is great news for those who wish to catch up on their reading during this difficult time whilst not wanting to venture to shops.

Our online shop sends books worldwide though some titles will be in short supply as some of the smaller publishers are choosing not to operate or they are in voluntary self-isolation due to their age. I also realise that some delivery services are taking longer than normal.

Should you like to place an order, I can assure you that I will do my very best to turn the orders around quickly (or email you to let you know if I can't) and you can always contact me if you have any other queries.

Stay safe.

Wishing all customers; past, current and new, a very Happy (safe and healthy) New Year

Kay Books is an online bookshop, launched in November 2007 to sell books published by Richard Kay Publications. The site took off really well and since May 2008 we have been adding a variety of other local, independent, publishers' titles. There are now over 360 titles displayed including those from Heritage Lincolnshire, Society of Lincolnshire History and Archaeology, Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, Countryside Books, Lincoln Minster Press, Sentinel Press and Richard Kay Publications and more recently Festung Guernsey, and many more self-published titles.

In 2012 I took the reins of Richard Kay publishing and have successfully produced several books and reprinted many of the old favourites - The latest, Little Will and Clink Carrot, is now back in the shops :)

In autumn 2013 (following a personal move to Guernsey) I began to widen our selection to begin offer some titles that cover the enormous amount of history surrounding the Channel Islands, beginning with The Occupation and the German-built fortifications. The latter being part of the Atlantic Wall project (the fortification of the British Channel Islands, which were occupied by Nazi Germany from 30 June 1940 to 9 May 1945). The only Nazi concentration camps on British soil were operated by the Organisation 'Todt' (OT) in Alderney.

Our books are historical (local, national, international and military), biographical ('Life in Lincolnshire' and 'Vernacular History Series'), or dialect (both academic and oral tradition). We also stock some archaeological papers including a detailed study of Lincoln Castle before and after 1068 and a popular title The History and Archaeology of Jethou (a tiny island of about 44 acres immediately South of Herm).

Although the vast majority of our titles are non-fiction, I am increasing my personal preference which is 'faction' - stories set in real locations and incorporating real history, giving a more social aspect to seeing and understanding people's lives - in different times. I have recently added to this list with the acclaimed Anne Allen's Guernsey Novels - set in this beautiful island and blending real places with mystery, intrigue, crime and love stories! Fiction appears on this site as a vehicle for dialect as we carry some titles of legends and folklore too. All our books have some connection with the Channel Islands or Lincolnshire - though in a very few cases merely the author's residence. There are also three historical maps published individually (suitable for framing) and a series of prints (taken from the Nature-Lovers' Year book) available along with several maps of Boston and the Wash dating back to 1693.

Following from our success supplying Lincolnshire books I am branching out with a few books from my new home - Guernsey in The Channel Islands. Steeped in history, these islands give rise to many military titles and a range of books studying the German Occupation and the reminders that still exist today over 70 years on. We have now created a whole new area for these. Please click on Channel Island History in 'Categories' under the search bar to view the 26 titles displayed with more to follow.

If there is a Lincolnshire (or Channel Island) title you are looking for and you can not find it here - please ask via the contact page or email me directly and I will always respond.