The Book World Today
A New Survey of the Making and Distribution of Books in Britain
1st Edition
Published on 24. September 2025
Book
Hardback
276 pages
978-1-041-11655-4 (ISBN)
Description
Originally published in 1957, The Book World Today was the most comprehensive survey yet attempted of the making and distribution of books in Britain at the time. All the main aspects and problems of this complicated process are expounded by men of high standing in their own fields, who wrote from expert knowledge. Anyone who earned their living from books, was likely to find here facts and ideas which were new to them.
The book has been edited mainly from the publisher's point of view, and publishing is given particularly full treatment. But the author, the agent, the booksellers, the librarians and the other contributors state their cases freely, often expressing views which clash, sometimes violently, with those of the publishers. It is this clash of opinion which gives the book its great importance. It would have been challenging, stimulating and of practical value to those inside the trade at the time while others would find in it much of interest. Today it can be read in its historical context.
The book has been edited mainly from the publisher's point of view, and publishing is given particularly full treatment. But the author, the agent, the booksellers, the librarians and the other contributors state their cases freely, often expressing views which clash, sometimes violently, with those of the publishers. It is this clash of opinion which gives the book its great importance. It would have been challenging, stimulating and of practical value to those inside the trade at the time while others would find in it much of interest. Today it can be read in its historical context.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Adult education
Adult education, General, and Postgraduate
Dimensions
Height: 222 mm
Width: 145 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
489 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-041-11655-4 (9781041116554)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
09/2025
Routledge
€73.99
Available for download
E-Book
09/2025
Routledge
€73.99
Available for download
Content
Foreword. Introduction Sir Stanley Unwin. 1. Authorship Walter Allen 2. Author, Agent and Publisher An Author's Agent 3. The Structure of the Book Trade F. D. Sanders 4. General Publishing W. G. Taylor 5. Educational Publishing A. W. Ready 6. Publishing for Young Readers John Bell 7. Medical, Scientific and Legal Publishing R. H. Code Holland 8. Paper-bound Books Sir Allen Lane 9. Book Production David Bland 10. Book Clubs John Baker 11. Reviewing Richard Church 12. Bookselling in London Anthony Godwin 13. Bookselling in the Provinces Alan B. Ward 14. Wholesale Bookselling Arthur Coleridge 15. Antiquarian and Secondhand Bookselling Ian R. Grant A Note on the "Book Rings" John Hampden 16. Public, National and other Libraries Lionel R. McColvin 17. Commercial Libraries Basil Donne-Smith 18. Sales Promotion Sydney T. Hyde 19. Books, Radio and Television Joseph Trenaman 20. The National Book League J. E. Morpurgo 21. British Books Overseas Sir Stanley Unwin 22. Books and the British Council John Hampden. Appendices. Index.