New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-20
BOOKS AND AUTHORS.
CURRENT TALK OF THINGS PRESENT
AND TO COME.

AND TO COME.
Whatever the temporary effect of political ex-
element and preoccupations may be upon the
people who buy books there is no sign that
this year there will be any dmnution of energy
and enterprise among the publishers. The lists
Of new books grow longer every day. While
some works may be withheld from the public
until after Election Day, the preparation of
them in the great printing and binding establish
ments is going with vigor and speed 1t is
not unlikely that great masses OF new books
will be all ready for circulation early in No
vember. and then, with President Mckinley
elected they will be sent forth with a rush.
In recording the favorable impression left by
the first chapters of Anthony Hopes latest
novel, '"Tristram of Blent" in the initial num-
Der of John MurTays new Periodical, THE
Monthly Review" noted that the story is
omitted from the American edition of that pub
LEGATION. This fact has reused some curiosity
which can, however only partially satisfy.
"Tristram of BIent" will be published in book
form in this country by Mcclure, Phillips &
Co. next spring. In February it will begin to
appear in serial form in a. number of American
newspapers, but the names of these journals
have not yet been announced
Nearly the entire issue, three hundred copies,
OF the large paper edition Of Stedman's "Ameri-
can Anthology" which published ten days
ago. subscribed for on the day of publica-
ton.
1--WE have had more than $50 newspaper notices
of it, and only two were favorable" said the
publisher of a recent novel by popular writer
whose work is not highly esteemed by fastidious
readers. And then he added in a tone benignant
toward the whole tribe of reviewers: But we
sold more than ffty-five thousand copies of it
before IT out a week" He was unable to
draw the moral from this and number Of pub
fishers express the same inability. 1t is possible
that they share the feelings Of those theatrical
managers who say to the critics. Condemn our
plays vigorously as you please, If you only
take space enough to do it in
The great publishing houses have an elaborate
machinery for sending out their books for review
by newspapers and periodicals that devote space
to this purpose. They have lists of newspapers
all the country mounting up into the hun
dreds To some Of these-a very few, chiefly in
New York-all their publications are sent, ex-
cept those of so special or technical a character
that they would interest only the readers OF
technical journals For these books there are
special lists of such journals. Newspapers that
are rated below the first class are treated with
different degrees of liberality according to the
estimated value Of their reviews in reaching
book buying public Some get only a few
of the most popular works of fiction. To others
some houses are willing to send books for review
if they will pay the express charges; to still
lower grade the proposition is only for special
reduction the price of the books in return
for a review. OF some expensive and luxurious
editions only a very few be sent to the press
on account of their cost OF recent volume of
this sort, one copy sent out by the pub
lishers-it was sent to The Tribune.
1t is always expected that marked copies of
! the papers containing reviews and notices shall
| be sent to the publishers; some firms, in addi-
| tion subscribe to clipping bureaus. These no
| tees are carefully studied and recorded In
| many houses account is kept In special
| book of every review. note or literary item re-
| ferring to the firms publications, so that the
! man who has charge of this department can tell
! at a glance the characteristics of any particular
newspaper in its literary department. The
notices themselves carefully studied, and in
the light of what they show as to the literary
| quality and influence of the newspapers the
lists are frequently revised and amended
The expense of all this in the aggregate is, Of
course, great. Besides the cost Of the books
| themselves, the express charges and postage
are considerable item; though in the case of
| newspapers in cities where the publishers have
! booksellers as customers the review copies are
| sent in the package with the booksellers
ordered copies, and the booksellers are charged
with their delivery; which. of course. they are
willing to attend to. because the effect of local
review is to increase their sales. The au-
thor, of course gets no royalty on the books thus
| distributed.
DR.. Henry Dykes last two books, Little
Rivers" and "Fishermen's Luck" have both had
| a sale of about twenty-five thousand copies as
| the Scribners report For the benefit of the
large public which likes his blue sky philosophy
| his cheerful optimism and good fellowship one
| Of his admirers, the Rev. George Sidney Web
ster, Of this city, has chosen and arranged from
his writings q year book entitled "The Friendlr