Nick Cave enthusiasts have flooded a charity bookshop in Hove, southern England, following the musician’s generous donation of 2,000 books from his personal collection.
The Australian artist contributed his collection to the Hove Oxfam Bookshop on Blatchington Road. These books were previously part of an extensive personal library that was reimagined for an art installation traveling to Denmark and Canada.
A staff member at the shop, identified only as Richard, mentioned to the Argus, “It’s a fascinating donation. The selection covers a wide range of subjects—philosophy, art, religion, and even vintage fiction. It’s a diverse mix, and he clearly cherished his books; some are quite old.”
Among the titles available for sale are works by notable authors such as Salman Rushdie, Christopher Hitchens, and Ian McEwan, as well as a first edition of Johnny Cash’s Man in White, and even “a cookbook for aphrodisiacs,” according to The Times.
As interest surged, reports revealed “a crowd of people” eagerly perusing Cave’s books in the shop, with unique finds including a boarding pass for a flight to Amsterdam, a US map, an empty cigarette packet, and even an “old envelope with ‘Luke’s tooth’” scribbled in Cave’s distinctive handwriting.
By Saturday, long lines formed at the shop as whispers of the donation spread.
Cave and his family moved to Brighton in the 2000s, but he has experienced deep personal loss; his son Arthur tragically died in 2015 after a fall in Brighton. The family later relocated to Los Angeles and then London, ultimately selling their Brighton residence for £2.9 million in 2023. Cave reflected on their departure, stating, “Brighton had just become too sad… we did, however, return once we realized that, regardless of where we lived, we just took our sadness with us.”
Richard noted that most of Cave’s books would appear to be ordinary unless fans do some digging: “Several have plane tickets used as bookmarks, but in general, it’s not like he marked them with a bookplate or inscribed his name.”
Some customers reported finding books with underlined passages or notes in Cave’s handwriting. Additionally, certain books were gifts, such as a copy of The Lieutenant of Inishmore autographed by Irish playwright Martin McDonagh.
A spokesperson for Cave declined to comment on the donation, stating, “He believes that the discoveries will remain intriguing mysteries for those who find them.”
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