WHAT THE PUBLIC READS.

Grey River Argus, 11 January 1927, Page 6

WHAT THE PUBLIC READS.

IS THE STANDARD HIGH?

Opinions of Booksellers.

The question as To the class of literUnro which appeals to the majority M the reading public is a vexing one. borne people assert that the standard has becouie lower whilst the opinion ol others is that it is rising and continues to do so from year to year. The Lest means of ascertaining the pulse ol the people in this respect is no doubt through the book-sellers and public libraries and, following on the interesting points which have already been raised in the columns of the “Argus” upon the "subject a reporter made enquiries about the town. As a result of his investigations he found that the pulse beat in a rather uncertain manner but generally the conditions might be deemed to be favourable.

One bookseller approached for an expression of opinion stated his experience was that, taken all round, the majority of the public were after a healthy class of books. During the War the trashy variety was in demand but this had since fallen off. The undesirable class of reading to-day was chiefly sought after by the flapper. He at

tributed the reason to curiosity. An instance of this was a book, since banned which, though useful for married people, had been sought after by the young er people. A good clean class of story such as 'those written by John Fox Jr., was in demand whilst among the established classic Dickens, bcott and Dumas were continually asked for. Where formerly these authors were sold in do-

zens they were now disposed of by the easeful. There was an increase in theological books and other serious work. A large number of boys asked for elementary text books on various subjects.

Except Shakespeare and Longfellow there was not much demand for the older poets. John Masefield and Rupert Brooke were favoured amongst the writers of modern poetry for which there was a fair demand. Poetry was not widely read during the War, but since then growing interest had been taken in it.

Our informant credited to the Technical School some responsibility for the improvement in the standard of taste shown by the younger people, ami the school library stimulated a growing interest in the better class of literature. IHe could tell this by those who came into the shop. At a country school the ,headmaster, before sending in his order foi' prizes, got the pupil to write a first and second choice of a book, ano of about 60 pupils three-quarters wanted works on nature study or historical tales. This had been done for two years in succession and although there were different lots of children each year the tendency regarding the choice was the same.

From this source of information the pressman went to another of the fraternity and sought his opinion on the ‘matter. The experience of this gentleman was of a diffrent order. People eschewed the classics and asked for light fiction, the popular demand being for Ruby M. Ayres, Charles Akien Seltzer, Edgar Wallace, Wodehouse and others. The wild West still had its lure and William McLeod Baine supplied the literary needs of many. But even in this class of fiction-writers there were likes and dislikes. Ethel M. Dell a one-time best seller was no longer asked for while Peter B. Kyne had also had his day.

Of the better class of author a dubious shake of the head indicated the slackening of interest in them supplemented by the remark that at. out time Darwin could be sold, but not so now. Charles Dickens, George Eliot and even Dumas who were formerly asked for a good deal were seldom mentioned. There were some inquiries for biogra phy and Henry Ford’s “My Life and Work” found a steady sale. The book seller said that one of the contributing factors to the demand for cheap fiction was its cheapness. There were a number of authors such as Vachell and l«ainol who were popular but who were not bought because 6/- was asked for them.

r Yet another bookseller was of th*opinion that the demand was for light fiction Jackson Gregory, Zane Grey and Ruby M. Ayres figuring amongst the favoured authors. Such novelists as Scott were never asked for from one year’s end to another While there was not a great demand for what was called classical works, said one of the librarians of the Grey mouth Municipal Library, the tone of the books taken out by the subscribers was generally a high one. A few years i Charles Garvice and Mrs . Henry Ward were the vogue but their popularity had waned. People to-day liked something humorous and for that reason W. W. Jacobs, whose title to fame is well known, was sought after. Above all things subscribers liked a good love story. While there was stiD a good percentage who were attracted toward* the cowboy type of novel the

£hief demand was for Lincoln’s Cape Cod stories while an English s<*t W ling was greatly appreciated, and for this reason William J. Locke, Sheila Kaye-Smith and Thomas Hardy, one of the greatest of novelists, were prefer-

The growing interest of the historical novel is a healthy sign of the increasing knowledge and the desire to know still more about past events. A striking instance that this increased interest is of recent occurrence is thp case of Rafael Sabatini. It will no

doubt surprise many to learn that a number of this talented author’s books Were published over twenty years ago. They have awaited until of late years, through the medium of the film version of his recent books nd doubt to be introduced to the present day reader. And with the discovery these books have come into consistent popularity ad is demonstrated by tho array of dates stamped in them as they have been taken out.

Ou the whole it was thought that the people of Greymouth read for amusement. The standard of book chosen, as mentioned before was fairly high, but for the most part the readers did not look for instruction. That section. however, which used the reference books did so regularly and there was a tendency towards further reading in this branch of literature.

“THE VOGUE OF THE BOOK.” (To the Editor). Sir, —I am glad you considered my remarks worth challenging in turn. You have brought out some further stimulating opinions anc. ideas on the value of books. I no.U a careless construction

in my previous letter, my thoughts ha'-, ing been too busy for my grammar; but fortunately tbe vital criticism was not affected thereby. You say that “a month’s fishing with Zane Grey would be more exhilarating than readinc about the same in his books, but that it is beyond the means of the average reader.” Therein you cap my opinion of the chief merit of reading—that it offers a cheap means, through the imagination, of experienieng the joys of life, which are otherwise denied to one by limited means. Now, whilst I do not deny the merit and necessity of books that cultivate the functions of

“understanding, reason, comprehension and inference by reliable data comparing past with present,” which you consider necessary for an “educated democracy,” I insist on the equality of mental and moral stimulating force of the imagination. Each of these has its respective sphere of influence. The text books of Mills, Marx, Gibbons, McCaulay, etc., are for readers with strong vitality and digestion. Admittedly this is “practical” reading; but it. limited to a comparatively few choice minds. But a far wider influence is wielded by the presentation of these studied truths in “parable” form (the “milk of the word”) by the high priests of fiction of the better kind, in such manner the priest or minister undergoes a rigid theological training, to present the essence of his digested studies in a simpler manner. In such a way ‘‘ O. Henry, ’ ’ a keen student of human life, epitomises, in a. short story, some great sociological problem, as in ‘ ‘ The Guilty Party, ’ ’ and so clinches a great truth under the guise of entertainment. Even the lighter types of humorous books have a useful purpose, as a medicine to tone up the system that is worn by the pressing demands of human toil and endeavour.—l am, “INTERESTED.” (In admitting the reading of books such as those of Mill, Marx, Gibbons and Macaulay is “limited to a comparatively few,” our correspondent concedes our point. In effect he believes fiction wields a “far wider influence.” That is just what we contend. The question, however, he neglects to consider is, whether the influence of fiction, either necessarily or in actual experience, is better than that of the aforementioned works of limited vogue. Surely the limi'.-.iicn of the vogue explains that of the effect? When concluding that ’he “chief” merit of reading is that “it offers a cheap means cf experiencing tbe joys of life otherwise denied by lack of means,” our correspondent must base it on th i belief that the chief medium of popular ••ulture is the imagination; and that is why he fancies that for the ma jority “s'; idled truths” are only to be conveyed in

“parable form.” Which is pure burkum! If they are studied and true, the truths can be definitely communicated, instead of by analogy. The “scholar” answering the examiner io parables would get nowhere. Parables and analogies are for definite truths what fiction is for the “joys of life” —a substitute. In theology parabl -s indicate what cannot be demonstrated by experience, but as guides in every day social life, facts and principles necessarily supersede fiction. Fancy or entertainment is one thing and reasoning or knowledge quite another. — Ed.)