For Latvians living in exile after World War Two, reading books became an opportunity to maintain the illuseion of returning home to Latvia, to preserve and keep alive the richness and poetry of the Latvian language. The largest book publishers, including the “Grāmatu Draugs”, “Tilts” (both in the USA), “Daugava”, “Ziemeļblāzma” (both in Sweden), “Imanta” (Denmark) and others, operated in various countries, but in England books were published episodically. In order for Latvian books and newspapers, magazines, newsletters and other informative publications to reach readers in England, there were book stalls and bookstores cities with larger groups of Latvians, where you could order books, subscribe to periodicals, buy postcards, handicrafts, sound recordings and the like. These were private initiatives of enterprising Latvians, who furnished and maintained premises, and established contacts with Latvian book publishers, thus becoming intermediaries, carring out their services in their free time from daily work.

The first Latvian bookstore in London started operating in 1938. The beginnings were modest; it was located in the house of Mrs. V. Jūga, where the board of the Latvian Welfare Fund (Daugavas Vanagu fonds – DVF) was also located later. Over time, the DVF bookstore became the largest and leading Latvian bookstore in Britain. It accepted orders for all Latvian newspapers and periodicals, as well as books. On 30 November 1950, the DV) purchased a five-story house (72 Queensborough Terrace, London W2). The house was equipped with a foundation office, a bookstore and other necessary premises for the office. The DVF bookstore took over two companies - "Papardes Zieds" and A. Veinbergs’ bookshop. The DVF set up further bookshops in Leeds, Leicester, Oldham, Halifax, Bradford, Westwells. It became a kind of cultural center. For many years, the bookstore was managed by philologist Terēze Budiņa-Lazdiņa. It also set up a book stall during the Latvian song festivals in England.

There were other bookstores or book stalls in England. One such was a book stall at the “Kursa” grocery store in Bradford, which operated until 1963.

At Easter 1957, the Lutheran Council in Great Britain, with the financial support of the Philadelphia United Lutheran Book Supplier, opened the Lutheran book stall, headed by Roderiks Pavasars, and organized the Lutheran Books Ltd.

The Latvian bookstore "Spīdola" operated in Manchester under the direction of E. Kirsteins. In 1956, the DVF bought a house in Manchester, to which the bookstore run by E. Kirstein moved. It was wellknown and popular throughout the North of England, but it did not last long.

In February 1961, Nikolajs Doichevs opened a Latvian bookstore in Stockport. It offered books of various publishers, including previously published editions. N. Doičevs also published the bookstore's free newsletter "Staburags" (book catalog).

In 1956, a book stall was opened at the Latvian Home in Almeley to make available the latest Latvian periodicals and books for people who spent their holidays there.

Book stalls usually operated at DVF branches, i.e., the DVF Latvian Bookstore set up book stalls in Leeds, Leicester, Corby, Derby, Oldham, Coventry, Halifax, Bradford, Westwells, Fortstown, Nottingham and elsewhere. Book stalls often worked with DVF Information Units in different cities in England. Books were ordered and sold to members in almost all DVF branches in England.

Book stalls operated and Latvian books could be purchased during all major Latvian events (song festivals, theatre performances, literary events, organisation meetings, etc.).