237:
525:
promotion, which is now all sucked up by the festival. Richard used to be great at drumming up publicity and denouncing the festival. He's not able to do that any more, so we need to set up a council to replace him." and "My point is we've retired him, and if you have any respect for him then let him have a rest – he's 71." Another of the to-be commonwealth, bookseller and "Witchfinder
General" Peter "Boz" Harries agreed, arguing that Booth had failed in his duties to the town, adding, "We think this is a natural continuation. There are one or two locals who think it is rather cruel, but when Richard had his coronation in the 1970s a lot of locals were vehemently against him."
513:
him move large "lorry loads" of books from the United States to the UK, in an on-off "love/hate" working relationship that lasted over a decade. Despite Harris's leading of a trial of treason and symbolic "beheading" of Booth, they "remained on good terms". After becoming independent of Booth and setting up his own bookshop in the town, subsequently setting up a commonwealth, became the "first minister" and planned to set up a
Speaker's Corner, which would establish Hay as a bastion of "free speech".
521:. Though Harris is not recorded as having used the word, he was concerned about the threat posed to the independent character of the town by the over-dependence on the commercial, outsider interests of the Hay Festival, "saying, we cannot trade off the profile of the festival for 52 weeks a year". Indeed, Harris's prosecuting argument was that the Hay Festival had become too publicly dominant and had negatively impacted the economic fortunes of the many secondhand books shops that made up the town.
38:
524:
Harris argued that Booth, a promotional figurehead of the town due to his self-declared kingship, had been negligent in promoting the issues of the booksellers over the festival. He told the press in 2009, "You can fill a town with books, but that won't bring people to the townYou need publicity and
512:
In 2009, a revolt was held against the "King" by republicans, led by bookseller and proprietor of Oxford House Books, Paul Harris, who journalist Sean Dodson called a "Cromwell figure". He was former employee of Booth's, reported as being "tutored at the knee" of the self-declared regent and helping
195:
In the early 1970s, Booth opened a second-hand bookshop in Hay-on-Wye, on estate inherited from his uncle, Willie Booth. He requested local Hay-on-Wye residents to buy and ship books back to Hay-on-Wye to be re-sold, other booksellers followed Booth, until the town became known as "Town of Books".
220:
In August 2005, Booth announced that he was selling his Hay bookshop and moving to
Germany. Ultimately, Booth did not move to Germany but continued to live in Brynmelyn, owning a bookshop called The King of Hay. The bookshop is now under the ownership of Elizabeth Haycox and has had extensive
580:
528:
There were opponents to the republican mission, including Booth himself, who said "I don't think it's worth having an argument as they don't know what they're talking about The revolting peasants are revolting." The founder of the festival
516:
The "trial for treason" was not just a publicity stunt; like the initial declaration of independence by Booth, it was inspired by political concerns, but instead of economic decline, the rebels were inspired by concerns around the issue of
584:
244:
In 2014, Booth gave his name to an annual literary award in association with the Hay
Writers' Circle. Judges and winners of the Richard Booth Prize for Non-Fiction have been as follows:
424:
562:. Paul Harris led the charge, and applause and jeers from the peripheries of the Butter Market could be heard when the fake head of Booth rolled into the bucket .
477:
385:
554:
The "beheading" of Booth's effigy took place on the 27th of
September, 2009, in the old Butter Market in the centre of the town. The rebels were dressed like
942:
533:
was similarly dismissive, blaming the decreasing fortunes of the booksellers individually and saying, they "need to rethink their (business) strategy".
203:
and his horse as Prime
Minister. The publicity stunt gained extensive news coverage and resulted in several spin-offs such as "passports" being issued.
639:
163:
as a centre for second-hand bookselling and founder of The
Kingdom of Hay-on-Wye, a micronation that claims the town as an independent kingdom.
551:
commentating at the time, sympathised with the booksellers, also suggesting that the recession and the internet had affected their fortunes.
957:
547:
However, Harris argued that booksellers had seen a 50% decrease in sales in the years leading up to the revolt . Popular
British novelist
932:
967:
962:
972:
419:
377:
952:
482:
381:
833:
763:
236:
544:
said, "Many festival goers don't go into the town, but the idea that the festival detracts from Hay is clearly preposterous."
210:
was another spin-off from the burgeoning number of bookshops in the town, which gets an estimated 500,000 tourists a year.
606:
691:
927:
727:
947:
345:
795:
536:
Several novelists spoke out in response to the planned trial and beheading, some in support, some against.
487:
429:
373:
143:
131:
121:
28:
937:
902:
643:
548:
540:
said, "I call the festival
Waterstones-on-Wye. It's almost lost touch with intellectual value" but
184:
665:
214:
207:
199:
On 1 April 1977, Richard Booth proclaimed Hay an "independent kingdom" with himself as king
922:
917:
8:
290:
803:
735:
37:
537:
156:
530:
518:
303:
277:
148:
879:
859:
911:
807:
739:
699:
541:
85:
213:
In recognition of his services to tourism, Booth was awarded the MBE in the
264:
180:
152:
555:
160:
559:
172:
884:
864:
176:
81:
692:"National Assembly for Wales Election Results 1999-2007"
581:"The King of Hay, Richard Booth has died aged 80"
909:
228:with the help of his stepdaughter Lucia Stuart.
240:The "King of Hay" Booth memorial in Hay-on-Wye
607:"Obituary: Richard Booth died on August 20th"
159:known for his contribution to the success of
507:
221:refurbishment works carried out since 2009.
147:(12 September 1938 – 20 August 2019) was a
943:Members of the Order of the British Empire
235:
224:In 1999, he published his autobiography
628:. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. p. 487.
910:
860:"Booksellers 'behead' the King of Hay"
796:"Booksellers 'behead' the King of Hay"
725:
623:
501:Multi-member constituency; party list
828:
826:
824:
793:
789:
787:
785:
758:
756:
721:
719:
717:
617:
958:Socialist Labour Party (UK) members
794:Flood, Alison (30 September 2009).
372:Booth stood as a candidate for the
13:
933:Alumni of the University of Oxford
821:
642:. BBC. 11 May 2007. Archived from
14:
984:
968:21st-century Welsh businesspeople
963:20th-century Welsh businesspeople
896:
880:"The King of Hay "Beheading" Day"
782:
753:
714:
626:Merton College Register 1900-1964
558:and the pro-Booth royalists like
386:2009 European Parliament election
231:
140:Richard George William Pitt Booth
52:Richard George William Pitt Booth
973:Alumni of Merton College, Oxford
578:
36:
953:People educated at Rugby School
872:
852:
726:Dodson, Sean (2 October 2009).
728:"Overthrowing the King of Hay"
684:
658:
632:
599:
572:
1:
447:European Parliament elections
378:1999 Welsh Assembly elections
166:
624:Levens, R.G.C., ed. (1964).
7:
367:
132:Order of the British Empire
122:Socialist Labour Party (UK)
10:
989:
834:"The Battle of Hay-on-Wye"
764:"The Battle of Hay-on-Wye"
565:
508:Beheading of Booth Effigy
326:
190:
127:
117:
109:
101:
93:
70:
47:
35:
23:
392:Welsh Assembly elections
65:Plymouth, Devon, England
928:People from Hay-on-Wye
374:Socialist Labour Party
241:
185:Merton College, Oxford
948:Micronational leaders
239:
215:2004 New Year Honours
208:Hay Literary Festival
201:Richard Cœur de Livre
42:Richard Booth in 1984
702:on 29 September 2017
696:election.demon.co.uk
179:and was educated at
105:University of Oxford
587:on 17 February 2020
226:My Kingdom of Books
672:. 22 February 1999
646:on 8 November 2012
425:Mid and West Wales
382:Wales constituency
242:
171:Booth was born in
938:Welsh booksellers
840:. 25 January 2009
770:. 25 January 2009
613:. 29 August 2019.
505:
504:
444:
443:
365:
364:
282:Emma van Woerkom
137:
136:
62:12 September 1938
980:
890:
889:
876:
870:
869:
856:
850:
849:
847:
845:
830:
819:
818:
816:
814:
791:
780:
779:
777:
775:
760:
751:
750:
748:
746:
723:
712:
711:
709:
707:
698:. Archived from
688:
682:
681:
679:
677:
662:
656:
655:
653:
651:
636:
630:
629:
621:
615:
614:
603:
597:
596:
594:
592:
583:. Archived from
576:
538:Duncan Fallowell
451:
450:
396:
395:
247:
246:
157:micronationalist
146:
77:
61:
59:
40:
21:
20:
16:Welsh bookseller
988:
987:
983:
982:
981:
979:
978:
977:
908:
907:
899:
894:
893:
878:
877:
873:
858:
857:
853:
843:
841:
838:The Independent
832:
831:
822:
812:
810:
792:
783:
773:
771:
768:The Independent
762:
761:
754:
744:
742:
724:
715:
705:
703:
690:
689:
685:
675:
673:
670:The Independent
664:
663:
659:
649:
647:
640:"Richard Booth"
638:
637:
633:
622:
618:
605:
604:
600:
590:
588:
577:
573:
568:
510:
370:
361:Lily Rose King
319:Marianne Rosen
316:Oliver Bullough
234:
193:
169:
142:
118:Political party
102:Alma mater
89:
79:
75:
66:
63:
57:
55:
54:
53:
43:
31:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
986:
976:
975:
970:
965:
960:
955:
950:
945:
940:
935:
930:
925:
920:
906:
905:
898:
897:External links
895:
892:
891:
871:
851:
820:
781:
752:
713:
683:
657:
631:
616:
598:
570:
569:
567:
564:
531:Peter Florence
519:Gentrification
509:
506:
503:
502:
499:
496:
493:
490:
485:
480:
474:
473:
470:
467:
464:
461:
458:
455:
449:
448:
442:
441:
438:
435:
432:
427:
422:
416:
415:
412:
409:
406:
403:
400:
394:
393:
369:
366:
363:
362:
359:
356:
352:
351:
348:
343:
339:
338:
335:
332:
328:
327:
325:
321:
320:
317:
314:
310:
309:
308:Ange Grunsell
306:
304:Noel Kingsbury
301:
297:
296:
295:Juliet Foster
293:
288:
284:
283:
280:
278:Colin McDowell
275:
271:
270:
267:
262:
258:
257:
254:
251:
233:
232:Literary award
230:
192:
189:
168:
165:
135:
134:
129:
125:
124:
119:
115:
114:
111:
107:
106:
103:
99:
98:
95:
91:
90:
80:
78:(aged 80)
74:20 August 2019
72:
68:
67:
64:
51:
49:
45:
44:
41:
33:
32:
27:
24:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
985:
974:
971:
969:
966:
964:
961:
959:
956:
954:
951:
949:
946:
944:
941:
939:
936:
934:
931:
929:
926:
924:
921:
919:
916:
915:
913:
904:
901:
900:
887:
886:
881:
875:
867:
866:
861:
855:
839:
835:
829:
827:
825:
809:
805:
801:
797:
790:
788:
786:
769:
765:
759:
757:
741:
737:
733:
729:
722:
720:
718:
701:
697:
693:
687:
671:
667:
661:
645:
641:
635:
627:
620:
612:
611:The Economist
608:
602:
586:
582:
575:
571:
563:
561:
557:
552:
550:
549:Robert Harris
545:
543:
542:Matthew Engel
539:
534:
532:
526:
522:
520:
514:
500:
497:
494:
491:
489:
486:
484:
481:
479:
476:
475:
471:
468:
465:
462:
459:
456:
453:
452:
446:
445:
439:
436:
433:
431:
428:
426:
423:
421:
418:
417:
413:
410:
407:
404:
401:
398:
397:
391:
390:
389:
387:
383:
379:
375:
360:
357:
354:
353:
349:
347:
344:
341:
340:
337:Kerry Hodges
336:
333:
330:
329:
323:
322:
318:
315:
312:
311:
307:
305:
302:
299:
298:
294:
292:
289:
286:
285:
281:
279:
276:
273:
272:
268:
266:
263:
260:
259:
255:
252:
249:
248:
245:
238:
229:
227:
222:
218:
216:
211:
209:
204:
202:
197:
188:
186:
182:
178:
174:
164:
162:
158:
154:
150:
145:
141:
133:
130:
126:
123:
120:
116:
112:
108:
104:
100:
96:
92:
87:
86:Herefordshire
83:
73:
69:
50:
46:
39:
34:
30:
25:Richard Booth
22:
19:
883:
874:
863:
854:
842:. Retrieved
837:
811:. Retrieved
800:The Guardian
799:
772:. Retrieved
767:
743:. Retrieved
732:The Guardian
731:
704:. Retrieved
700:the original
695:
686:
674:. Retrieved
669:
660:
648:. Retrieved
644:the original
634:
625:
619:
610:
601:
589:. Retrieved
585:the original
574:
553:
546:
535:
527:
523:
515:
511:
440:Not elected
371:
346:Roland White
265:Rachel Cooke
243:
225:
223:
219:
212:
205:
200:
198:
194:
181:Rugby School
170:
151:bookseller,
139:
138:
76:(2019-08-20)
18:
923:2019 deaths
918:1938 births
579:Owen, Twm.
498:Not elected
358:Gilly Smith
350:Gill Haigh
153:bibliophile
94:Nationality
912:Categories
676:21 January
556:Roundheads
291:Dan Davies
167:Early life
161:Hay-on-Wye
113:Bookseller
110:Occupation
58:1938-09-12
808:0261-3077
740:0261-3077
706:23 August
666:"Pandora"
591:20 August
560:Cavaliers
334:Rib Davis
269:Jo Jones
88:, England
903:BBC Arts
368:Politics
173:Plymouth
885:YouTube
865:YouTube
650:24 July
566:Sources
414:Result
384:at the
376:in the
256:Winner
217:List.
149:British
97:British
806:
738:
492:12,402
472:Notes
469:Result
457:Region
402:Region
191:Career
128:Awards
844:5 May
813:5 May
774:5 May
745:5 May
483:Wales
463:Votes
460:Party
434:3,019
408:Votes
405:Party
253:Judge
177:Devon
82:Cusop
846:2023
815:2023
804:ISSN
776:2023
747:2023
736:ISSN
708:2019
678:2021
652:2020
593:2019
478:2009
454:Year
420:1999
399:Year
380:and
355:2022
342:2021
331:2020
324:2019
313:2018
300:2017
287:2016
274:2015
261:2014
250:Year
206:The
183:and
155:and
71:Died
48:Born
495:1.8
488:SLP
437:1.4
430:SLP
144:MBE
29:MBE
914::
882:.
862:.
836:.
823:^
802:.
798:.
784:^
766:.
755:^
734:.
730:.
716:^
694:.
668:.
609:.
388:.
187:.
175:,
84:,
888:.
868:.
848:.
817:.
778:.
749:.
710:.
680:.
654:.
595:.
466:%
411:%
60:)
56:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
.jpg)