George Frederick Sims
George Frederick Robert Sims | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Hammersmith, London, England |
| Died | November 4, 1999 (aged 76) Reading, Berkshire, England |
| Occupation(s) | Antiquarian bookseller, author |
| Known for | Crime fiction novels, rare book dealing |
George Frederick Robert Sims (born 3 August 1923 in Hammersmith, died 4 November 1999 in Reading, Berkshire), frequently referred to as George Sims, was a distinguished English antiquarian bookseller and author specializing in crime fiction.
Originating from Hammersmith, London, Sims was the offspring of a shoe merchant and received his education at the John Lyons School located in Harrow. In 1943, he wed Beryl Simcock, and the couple had three children. During the concluding phase of World War II, he served within the Intelligence Corps. Following his military service, he gained experience working at Len Westwood's bookshop in Harrow before establishing his own mail order book enterprise under the name G.F. Sims. In 1952, he moved to Hurst, where he lived until his passing.
The G.F. Sims business continued operations until 1987. This venture is explored in Mr George Sims Regrets by James Fergusson, which documents the company's collectible editions. The book's title alludes to a shop notice stating: "Mr. George Sims regrets that his signature spoils books."
As an author, Sims produced works spanning poetry, crime novels, and autobiographical writings. His novels were published by Penguin in paperback form and earned praise from critics including H.R.F. Keating, Maurice Richardson, Roy Fuller, and Evelyn Waugh. Many of his stories, such as The Terrible Door (1964), incorporate elements drawn from his background in the rare book industry.
Sims' personal documents and business records are preserved at Dartmouth College, with further collections held within the Tragara Press archive at the National Library of Scotland.
Fiction
- The Terrible Door (1964)
- Sleep No More (1966)
- The Last Best Friend (1967)
- The Sand Dollar (1969)
- Dead-hand (1971)
- Hunters Point (1973)
- The End of the Web (1976)
- Rex Mundi (1978)
- Who Is Cato? (1981)
- The Keys of Death (1983)
- Coat of Arms (1984)
- The Despain Papers (1992)
Non-fiction
- The Rare Book Game (1985)
- More of the Rare Book Game (1988)
- Last of the Rare Book Game (1990)