“We opened six years ago at a time when all was not rosy in the bookselling world,” says co-owner Rachael Howorth, who runs the bookshop with her husband, James. “James was made redundant and we thought, ‘Let’s run away to the seaside’ and Googled bookshops for sale. We sold everything and invested it all in a room full of books. Moving from the Midlands to the seaside to sell books has been the best thing we could have done. We cover all genres and have just moved into bigger premises. We wanted a name that sounded like a book title; when you go into a bookshop, you could be going anywhere, from deep into history to fantastic lands. Penzance is right on the edge of Britain and has links with the rest of the world and an important maritime history. It’s such a beautiful place.”

Top five sellers

•Milkman Anna Burns
•Tombland CJ Sansom
•Lethal White Robert Galbraith
•The Salt Path Raynor Winn
•Take Nothing With You Patrick Gale

Five recommendations

• Winter Ali Smith
“A heartbreaking state-of-the-nation novel set in Cornwall, without an ounce of sentimentality.”

•Normal People Sally Rooney
“Sublime writing with a very modern voice. This is my favourite book of the year.”

•Antique Maps of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly RCE Quixley
“Full of fascinating facts. First published in 1966, this is the long-awaited second edition.”

•Mousehole Cat Antonia Barber
“A perfect mix of fable and beauty.”

•A Winter’s Promise Christelle Dabos
“The first in the Mirror Visitor series, in which the world has fragmented. Perfect for fans of Philip Pullman’s The Book of Dust.”

The Edge of the World Bookshop, 25/26 Market Jew Street, Penzance, Cornwall, TR18 2HR; edgeoftheworldbookshop.co.uk