A new biography aims to shine a light on self-proclaimed King of Hay, Richard Booth.

The Bookseller of Hay: The Life and Times of Richard Booth publishes on the 4th of September with Hachette UK imprint, Corsair, and tells the tale of the “extraordinary, chaotic man, a true British eccentric”. It is written by James Hanning.

It explores Booth’s history as an aimless young student who left Oxford before finishing his degree, defying his parents expectations when he decided to sell second-hand books in the now famous market town. The story highlights Booth’s business savvy plans, remarks on his character, and tells the story of how Richard Booth put Hay on the map. It also touches upon Mr Booth’s opposition of the Hay Festival.

James Hanning, a frequent visitor to Hay since the 1960s, has interviewed dozens of local people and booksellers for his book, capturing the bygone era of eccentricity and excess.

Speaking to The Brecon and Radnor Express, James said: “He’s an extraordinary character. He had an impact on so many people. Booth was an incredibly divisive figure, but the one thing everyone agrees on is Hay would not be Hay without Booth. In a lot of respects he was childish and egotistical. He did a lot to help locals, but equally he did want to be king of the castle and for people to acknowledge what he’d done. I think that’s why he struggled so much when the festival was set up. That’s one of the ironies. Hay has become even more celebrated because of the festival, despite his opposition to it.”

James has a background in journalism, and approached the story with his journalism experience in mind. “What I’m not trying to do is say Richard Booth was this sort of person or that sort of person. I don’t begin to understand Richard Booth. What I have tried to do is record the facts and do some straight reporting on him, and readers can drawn their own conclusions.”

Booth’s eccentric personality was met with much enthusiasm, but James also heard of stories where people weren’t fond of him. “He was a creature of his time. One of Richard’s oldest friends said he would not have got on in ‘woke’ world.”

But that isn’t to say that Richard wasn’t opposed to liberation. “He was described by someone as homophilic. In those days he would have been regarded as broad minded and enlightened and progressive. He was tolerant, actually.”

When asked if Richard Booth was the original influencer, James said: “He was an influencer ahead of his time, that’s absolutely right. His genius for publicity, in a way, was ahead of his time. He understood what made a good story. He had no background in that world at all. The press loved it.”

Other, heavier topics are included within the book, including Richard’s involvement in the death of a passenger in his car.

The book has also attracted some high-profile endorsements.

Writer and broadcaster Stephen Fry described the story as being "a breathtakingly hilarious and absorbing portrait of one of the most brilliant, dotty, dippy, delirious yet ultimately inspiring eccentrics in British history ... terrific."

While Horatio Clare said: “The Bookseller of Hay is the very model of a biography which amazes, occasionally horrifies and entirely engrosses. No visit or stay to the Welsh border will be complete without a copy of this dazzling portrait of a singular man, his wild times and change-making life. Booth's love of life, books, ambition, himself and some others comes blazing off its pages. James Hanning is a writer of sublime insight, style and skill.”