Welcome to OoPPs: Out-of-Print Projects

My aim for OoPPs is to revive out-of-print (OOP) publications for reading, review and reuse.  It’s not just a blog for bibliophiles but a space for people to review OOP titles, a showcase for live events inspired by OOP material and a reading group to discuss neglected OOP books.

I will also be inviting guests to create online projects for the site so it’s not just me banging on about the wonders of 70s travel guides and vintage physical fitness books – my current obsession.  Anyway, a programme of guest writers and their projects will be posted shortly.

A couple of summers ago I visited the Modernism exhibition at the V&A and saw an old film of a slet - several thousand Czech people exercising together in a stadium.  I was captivated by the synchronised display and compelled to find out more.  At the British Library I researched a small collection of OOP titles on the subject and became fascinated by Sokol – a Czech physical fitness and cultural movement.  I then purchased – and that was the start of my quest for other OOP keep-fit books.  So now I want to use actual exercise routines found in the books for Sokol inspired events I am producing in London and Norwich.

Over the next few weeks I will post reviews of my favourite titles from the keep-fit collection and maybe hold a slet (Czech – ‘a flocking of birds’) to celebrate OoPPs going live in the spring.  More on Sokol and all things synchronized another time.

If anyone has any inspirational books featuring ladies in big knickers keeping fit – I’d love to hear from you.