Tenth Muse Books

The Tenth Muse Bookstore was established in Seaside, Oregon, in 2002.  Our desire is to get people inspired—inspired to read. We carry a wide range of book selections, including: fiction, poetry, history, graphic novels, children’s, new age, health and much more.

 

What’s in a name?

 

The name of The Tenth Muse Bookstore comes from a blend between Greek mythology and renaissance poetry.  A muse is a spirit/goddess thought to inspire a poet or other artist. The nine muses were the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, goddess of memory, and such writers as Homer, Dante and Milton have all called upon the muses for inspiration. The Tenth Muse, however, comes from William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 38, in which he claims his lover to be a far better inspiration than the nine daughter’s of Zeus:

 

 

 

How can my Muse want subject to invent

While thou dost breathe, that pour’st into my verse

Thine own sweet argument, too excellent

For every vulgar paper to rehearse?

O, give thyself the thanks if aught in me

Worthy perusal stand against thy sight,

For who’s so dumb that cannot write to thee

When thou thyself dost give invention light?

Be thou the tenth Muse, ten times more in worth

Than those old nine which rimers invocate;

And he that calls on thee, let him bring forth

Eternal numbers to outlive long date.

If my slight Muse do please these curious days,

The pain be mine, but thine shall be the praise.