Small Treasures Well Worth the Hunt

By Judi McLeod —— Bio and Archives November 13, 2010

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One of the best finds for the reader is a well-stocked Second Hand Bookstore with a proprietor who knows his books. My favorite haunt is Square Nail Antiques and Books, tucked away in the end of a small shopping strip, at 792 Brant St., Burlington, Ontario. Being a huge fan of writer A.J. Cronin of The Judas Tree fame, I’d been searching everywhere for other Cronin novels, particularly wanting to get my hands on a copy of The Spanish Gardener, written in 1961.

Scottish physician and novelist Archibald Joseph Cronin’s (19 July 1896-6 January 1981) best known works include The Hatter’s Castle, The Stars Look Down, The Citadel, The Keys of the Kingdom and The Green Years, all of which were adapted to film. Sadly most of Cronin’s novels are out of print, but on my first trip to The Square Nail, owner Michael unearthed a paperback copy of The Spanish Gardener from his vast library, sending me happily on my way. Many of the books I find through Michael have signatures on the flyleaf, “Merry Christmas, Maggie-Christmas 1936.” Square Nail Antiques and Books also has antiques and treasures from the past for remarkably reasonable prices. I found an antique lampshade there which I turned into a candle holder by attaching it over a shepherd’s staff that originally held an outdoor lantern out in the garden (pic).