In the early 60s the young and adventurous Richard Booth founded the world’s first “Booktown” in the tiny Welsh village of Hay-on-Wye which was floundering from economic decline and migration. He flipped the depression around by selling second-hand and antiquarian books, and soon the cynicism he had initially met, was countered with overwhelming enthusiasm. Today, the idea has spread and there are over 27 book towns in the world with several playing a significant role in their local economies.