About the Author
Rebecca Romney is a rare book dealer and author of three books, Jane Austen’s Bookshelf, Printer’s Error: Irreverent Stories from Book History (with JP Romney), and The Romance Novel in English: A Survey in Rare Books. As a generalist rare book dealer, Romney handles works in all fields, from first editions of Jane Austen to science fiction paperbacks to Shakespeare Folios. Since 2011, Romney has appeared on the HISTORY Channel’s television show Pawn Stars as the rare book specialist. Romney was also featured in The Booksellers, a documentary about the rare book trade in New York that premiered at the New York Film Festival. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Forbes, Variety, The Paris Review, and more.
Romney co-founded Type Punch Matrix, a rare book firm in Washington, DC, in 2019. TPM sells a mixture of rare, collectible, vintage, and deluxe editions of a wide range of books to collectors and institutions. The firm believes in the mindful acquisitions, preservation, and celebration of books from all literary cultures.
In Jane Austen’s Bookshelf, Romney’s most recent book, she explores the women who had a profound impact on Austen’s work. Romney investigates the disappearance of Austen’s inspirations, revealing who they were, why they impacted Austen, and how they were forgotten. The Washington Post called Romney’s work “a meditation on reading and writing, on honesty and self-discovery—and on what books can teach us, if we let them.”
She is on the board of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America (ABAA), the Council of the Bibliographical Society of America (BSA), and on the board and faculty of the Antiquarian Book Seminars. Additionally, she is a member of the Grolier Club, the Association Internationale de Bibliophilie (AIB), the American Antiquarian Society (AAS), and the Baker Street Irregulars (BSI).
With a passion for discussing the enduring power of literature, the relevance of book collecting, and the preservation of history, Romney weaves together her experience and knowledge in captivating talks. Romney is a regular speaker at libraries, museums, schools, universities, literary festivals, bookshops, and more.
Raves and Reviews
Praise for Jane Austen’s Bookshelf
What a wonderful book! Jane Austen’s Bookshelf has everything a reader could desire: wit, passion, mystery, brilliant detective work, a love of rare books, a deep dive into literary history — and, best of all — the restoration of reputation for a group of great women authors whose names should never have been forgotten. I loved this book, and it will live on my own shelf forever.”
—Elizabeth Gilbert, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love and The Signature of All Things
[Romney] brings to the works the distinctive insights of a rare-book dealer and finds clues to her mysteries in the physical books themselves… an excellent introduction to Austen’s favorite novelists.”
—The Wall Street Journal
Your favorite author’s favorite authors! This is a perfect read for Women’s History Month, because there are so many women authors whose stories have been lost.”
—Emma Straub, The TODAY Show
[A] gem of passionate criticism.… Jane Austen’s Bookshelf stirred some emotions of my own. My penciled exhortations in the margins, some of excitement or communion, others of irritation, are in a way a response to Romney’s invitation to join in her intellectual tussling. It may be how new canons are formed; it’s certainly how enthusiasms are shared.”
—New York Times Book Review
A thrilling journey of adventure and self-discovery… On the one hand, Jane Austen’s Bookshelf is about the women who influenced Austen. But it is much more than that. It is a meditation on reading and writing, on honesty and self-discovery — and on what books can teach us, if we let them.”
—The Washington Post
A can’t miss for Austen fans and literary lovers alike.”
—Town & Country
Intimate, informative, and fun, Romney takes us on a journey through her personal book collection and into the world of Austen, where we quickly learn there’s so much more than meets the eye. This is an essential read for fans of Austen and the Regency and a guide to the women writers who make the era so irresistible.”
—Bea Hodges-Koch, author of Mad and Bad and co-owner of The Ripped Bodice
When it came to Jane Austen, literary critics closed the window. Rebecca Romney throws the door wide open to provide a wonderfully fresh perspective. Powered by a graceful, engaging style, intelligence, wit and the heart of a passionate collector, Jane Austen’s Bookshelf sweeps the reader along on a remarkable literary investigation that is both a journey of discovery and a work of insightful history. I loved this book. It is now on my personal bookshelf.”
—Jayne Ann Krentz, New York Times bestselling author of Shattering Dawn
Rebecca Romney takes a cannon to the canon, tracing the history of the women writers who paved the way for Jane Austen. These overlooked authors struggled against debt, deadbeat husbands, horrific pregnancies, class prejudice, and the widespread idea that women couldn’t and shouldn’t write. Romney brings them vividly to life and makes the compelling case that they defined the modern English novel. Jane Austen’s Bookshelf is a captivating narrative that weaves together history, feminism, and the enduring power of literature to move readers across centuries.”
—Amy Stewart, New York Times bestselling author of Wicked Plants
Praise for Printer’s Error
Printer’s Error is an entertaining entry in the always fascinating books-about-books genre. The Romneys make good on the irreverent premise that ‘the printed word is glorious, but it’s also nuts.’ How, they ask, can that be so? ‘Because we are gloriously nuts.’ It’s a keeper.”
—Nicholas A. Basbanes, author of A Gentle Madness: Bibliophiles, Bibliomanes, and the Eternal Passion for Books and On Paper: The Everything of its Two Thousand Year History by a Self-Confessed Bibliophiliac
Who knew the printed book could be so fun? J. P. and Rebecca have written a real page turner. Printer’s Error is truly a rare treasure.”
—Rick Harrison, author of License to Pawn and star of Pawn Stars
Captivating. It’s like standing in line and overhearing an animated conversation just ahead of you about the secret world of rare books—and hoping you hear it all before they get to the front of the line and wander off someplace else!”
—John Simpson, author of The Word Detective
Written in an engaging, accessible style, these accounts will appeal to fans of Pawn Stars, as well as scholars of literature and printing history.”
—Library Journal
In the Media
“Rare book dealer Rebecca Romney dedicates a book to the women Jane Austen read”
“Jane Austen’s Bookshelf by Rebecca Romney review – the women behind the woman”
“‘It cuts across time’: a peek into the world of antiquarian books”
“Who Were the Women Novelists Who Really Inspired Jane Austen?”
“‘Jane Austen’s Bookshelf’ Review: Eliza Bennet’s Godmothers”
