Square Books

Square Books opened September 14, 1979, initially focused on literature about Mississippi and the South. With the help of former Director of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture Bill Ferris, the bookstore, still in its infancy, hosted authors including Toni Morrison, Allen Ginsberg, and Alice Walker for readings and book-signings. Willie Morris became writer in residence at the University of Mississippi in 1980, and also was a great friend to the bookstore, who brought to town William Styron, James Dickey and Peter Matthiessen. In 1982 Barry Hannah moved to town. Hannah had an enormous effect on his students and many writers, such as Amy Hempel, came to town to visit Hannah, and thus Square Books. Mississippi native Richard Ford has had a long-time affiliation with the store, reading on the occasion of its 1986 expansion, and John Grisham and Larry Brown had their initial bookstore signing appearances at Square Books.[1]

The store is known for its close connection to the Oxford - Ole Miss community. The store's founder, Richard Howorth, often has remarked that much of the store's support from the community has been based on its ambition to overcome the stigma placed upon Ole Miss and Oxford after riots broke out on the campus when James Meredith desegregated the University in 1962.[2] This aspect of the town's relationship to the store is further evinced by Howorth's being elected to serve two terms as mayor of Oxford, 2001 - 2009.

The store moved to the former Blaylock Drug Store building in 1986, its current location. In late 1993 Square Books opened an annex location, Off Square Books, a few doors down the street from the main store, and there has grown a vast inventory of remainders along with a selection of used and collectible books. Off Square Books is also the space where an active schedule of touring authors, children's events, and the weekly live radio show, Thacker Mountain Radio, take place. In 2003 Square Books Jr, the children's bookstore branch, opened on the east side of the square.

• In 1986, owner Richard Howorth received the Charles S Haslam Award for Excellence in Bookselling
• In 2008, Howorth was awarded the Author's Guild Award for Distinguished Service to the Literary Community
• In 2013, Publishers Weekly awarded the store 'Bookseller of the Year'.[3]

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  Autographed author photos
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  Falkner section
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Square Books, Oxford, Mississippi.

• Oxford Conference for the Book The Twenty-Seventh Oxford Conference for the Book
• Thacker Mountain Radio Thacker Mountain Radio Hour