BOOKS OF 1930

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 11326, 2 October 1930, Page 7

BOOKS OF 1930

SOME. “BEST-SELLERS.”

LONDON, Aug. 7/ Rather more than BCfX) books were published in Britain during ihe. firs.t. naif of 1920, an increase of 40 por cent, over those of tho first' six months of last year. The chief, success ,nf recent mouths ;has;.teen pi.; B. Priestley's “The Good Companions,” which is said to haVe brought in £1(5,C00 for its accomplished and fortunate author. Mr. Priestley, has ajready finished ..-a successor |to “Tho Good Companions” • under tho tille of “Angel Pitvoinont.” A characteristic:. of; “The Good' Companions”- was its length. It has initiated a “boom” in. long novels. In recent years publishers would, hardly look at a novel of more than 106,00D words, and they preferred- one of 80,000. .John Galsworthy got over the difficulty by publishing.“ Tho Forsyte Saga” in six parts-,. /.The astonishing success of “The - Forsyte Saga” as two ominous volumes shoved that there: wa.« a rQtcnHaF market for much longer novels, and 11. (L Wells published “(Tissold” trilogy'to meet the demand. Mr. however, published bis long novel in a single volume, and made it evident that there was a public tor Mich work. Tho success of Hugh Walpole’s “Rogue Hemes” confirmed tlio impression. Gilbert I Tableau's autumn novel will run. ip; 175,OfK.i words, and Ernest Raymond;s “The Jesting'' will also -be;a- long book. -Ho .is “Lock Homeward, Angel,” that curious, but powerful.' study of a boy’s. struggle with circumstance, by the American, Thomas Wolfe. . -

Another publishing surprise -has been the continued success of 'All Quiet on the Western FrpnL.” Its sale in 15 mouths has reached Abd stupendous total of 2,600,000' copies, and the book has now . teen translated into 29 languages 310,060 ies have been sold in Britain; 325,000 in the United States; and 44.0,- *

000 in France, apart from I.OOU.GSA) in Germany itself. Italy . alone lffis refused to accept “All Quiet on the Western Front.” There the ban per 7 sists. It is interesting to compare such a success with the sales of other popular books, such .as the sale of 500,000 copies of Miss Ethel Dell's “Way of an Eagle,” 4CO',Wd copies of Wren’s “Beau Gestc,” and 750,000 copies of Robert Rouble's “Simon Called Peter.” Harold mil Wright, the American novelist, expects to sell more than 1.259,1--.» copies of any one of Ins successful books. The latest novel which is likely to reach a large circulation; is, A. P. Herbert's “The Water Gipsies.' Readers put it in their, travelling hags along with 11. G. Wells's ,‘The Autocracy of Mr. Parham,” another promising newcomer, in spite of Mr. Wells’s irritating habit of introducing o host of public men under the titles which do not oven dimly conceal the.originals. Mr. Herbert promises also a further volume on the adventures of “Topsy” and a book, ot light verso in the manner of “Plain Jane.” ' Other novels - which may be counted among tho “bestsellers” of .the summer season are Thornton Wilders “The Woman of Andros.” Lady. Eleanor Smith's ‘Red Wagon.’ a study of gipsy life; “Vile Bodies,” by Evelyn Waugh; “Europ.a’s Beast.” by R. H. -Mottram; “The. Party Dress,” by the American, Hergesheimerand “Singermann,” by Myron Bnnig. No books are enjoying more eral popularity than the travel books of H. V. Morton, “In England” and - “In feearclr.of Scotland ” Mr. Morton's quick-.eye ior essential fact, and his deliciously light pen have- endeared the books to thousands of readers. The death of Robert Bridges increased the , . demand tor his “Testament of Beauty,” which has enjoyed remarkable popularity ever since it was published last autumn. Harold Nicolson s life of Lord Car nock and Sir lan Malcolm’s study of Lord Balfour are also attracting' readers, Though the latter in no wav competes mill the full biography or Lord Balfour winch will appear later, together with , a fragment of autobiography. Readers who are interested in the psychology of childhood will be charmed bv “The Small Years” of Frank Kendon, a inilv delightful study, based upon the childish memories of a boy who was brought- up in a remote Kentish village. Anure Jlauno s “Byron” and Walter de la Marcs “Dc'-ert Islands” also are popular. Mr. de la Mare's book is nominally an essay upon Defoe's “Komnson, Crusoe.”' but voluminous notes convert it into a review of all the islands uf romance. M'orloy Roberts s “The Serpent’s Fang” will attrac.all who are interested in the vide, aspect, of biology. : .