The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-12-22
An Avalanche ~ ~
~ ~ of Good Books.

New York, December so-"Al the world loves lover"
Is an Old thought that might be applied to books and more
especially IN this of our Lord IL ever there was
perfect food OF hooks arke, has been during the
present season beginning at the end last season there
seemed to come avalanche OF books every quarter
ana New ork especially was favored with much the shape
OIL literature cheap in price and good in quality that had
never enjoyed before Scores of temporary places we're
opened for book auctions many Of the standard works
and considerable number OF publications were sold al
good hsure The prices maintained in these book
must have been highly gratifying the publishers because
the present fall has found them ON the increase and
so where will the red of the book auction is aunt
ing before the eye round among the publishers dcloses
some interesting facts, regarding fiction especially
and there has never been previous which so
nueh advertising has been done in order push popular
authors
BEGINNING with Charles Scrbners Sons by far the best
selling book they have introduced far this been
Inc Cavalier by George W. Cable, Starting with less
than 5000 advance sales this book upward 10000
within less than four weeks and how it promises in the
shape OF long evidenced by the that it now
passed the $4,000 mark Another the Scrihner pubca-
tons which has had tremendous sale running past 40 900
copies has been Henry Van DYKES rbe Ruling Passion
and the demand continues strong S another Of the mar
Vicious sellers from Scrbners Sons Ernest Seton
Ihompsons Lives Of the Hunted" The publishers started
with first edition Of 10000 copies, which exhausted
within three weeks after publication wild Animals Have
known, Mr. Seton Thompson's former book took nearly
three years to make hundred thousand but selling
extremely we'll and especially in the West 1t is expected
that Lives of the Hunted" will pass hundred thousand
mark before the end of the first This firm has been
extremely fortunate IN starting the season early with good
running books but they have also dark horse which may
develop surprising circulation before the is
lhs is Mitchells Amos Judd which they illustrated
in color with drawings by A. J. Keller They launched this
book some weeks ago and it advertising whatever
On its pure run up circulation OF nearly
copies already 1t the firms intention to push this
book little later in the season and the best
seller of the whole lot.
member of the house Of D. Appleton Co. gave the fol-
lowing report One OF the interesting features OF
American life is the keen desire and educa
ton which characerilc the American people This natural
finds expression in demand for books and while readers
are apt TO be impressed particularly by such remarkable de-
nand as that shown for David Harum which IS still hav
ing large sale there classes OF books outside OF
fiction which in constant demand by American readers
Fiction is of course the popular branch of literature and
the which evidence aud from d. Appleton
Companys point of view the interest in fiction is perhaps
illustrated by the success of The Eternal City with lis
first edition of in England and America which
present most successful bookby the cordial reception
which has been given that remarkable novel OF American
authors whom D. Appleton Co. have introduced
to the public by the welcome given TO Mr. Cyrus Townsend
Bradys important and bestse The Qubeon
Touch and the number of readers found Tor Mr. f. f.
Moores Nest Of nnets and other works of fiction which
have been brought out very recently by this house Another
American writer OF peculiarly hne talent Mr. Henry r. Full
to be published shortly by d. Appleton CO.. who arc
bringing his Under the Skylights. Especially inn
portant is Mr. T. Gaius Christmas and ayear romance
The Man Who Knew Better which appear with elab
illustrations by Gordon Browne
III too much said about fiction, however it may
to confirm the argument regarding the tyranny of the novel
whereas the experience OF y. Appleton Co is that the de-
sd for hat are termed standard works is constantly on
tho increase. 1t is Of unnecessary 10 refer 10 the
leading American cycopedia, the Universal which is in
such demand the part OF the public at the present
Turning to the works which are known trade books
the continued popularity OF Admiral Evans Sailors Log
shows that it is the most popular biographical work OF the
Just the Life and Letters OF Huxley led works OF
this class last year.
In history, b Appleton Co. will continue their i'm
poant Great Peoples Series, edited by DR. York Powell
Oxford with The French People by DR. Arhus lasse of
Christ church Oxford and little later there will be new
edition OF Msclay's History Of the Navy
An Of
in The Private Life OF the Sultan, by George Dops The
shown in this work has been accenuated doubtless
by the curious prominence of the Sultan in recent events
Another interesting tendency OF American readers is
shown in the demand for books which has been Illus
Prof Comstocks standard work on insects and Mr. Ma
hews Familiar Trees which are accompanied with eolored
plates and be illustrated again in the story for
young people entitled In the Days of Audubon which Mr.
Butterworth has just published
AS far the conditions Of the autumn business arc con-
ccrned they seem to Appleton Co to be most favorable
Their own been meeting extremely satsac
tory success and everything indicates that the demand for
good and we'll made books is constantly growing.
.As regards what are termed trade books D. Appleton
& Co.'S plans contemplate several important publications in
the immediate future with many others beyond which can
not be mentioned at present remarkable work. which in
cudes some striking studies of American financial conditions
by Hon Theodore f. Burton chairman OF
the rivers and harbors committee and this book which is
entitled Crisis and Panics and Periods Of Industrial and
Commercial Depression will be published early in the
very important new series entitled Appletons Worlds
Series will be begun early in the year also under the editor
shop Of Dr. H. J. Mackinder OF Christ church Oxford The
first will be entitled Britain and the North Atlantic
nv the editor and the second The Nearer East by DR.. d.
G. Hogaeh director Of the British school at Athens Dr.
George Brandes the well known scholar will publish with
D. Appleton Co. his work entitled Modern Scandi-
navian Literature large and elaborate illustrated book
bv Dr. n Hutchinson will present The Living Races OF
Mankind Early in the year D. Appleton CO. VIII publish
NJ ErapL Stockton's brilliant new novel, Kate Bennett
the Romance of Pirates Daughter They will also publish
new novel of Mr. c. C. Hockss, author Of In Defiance
OF the King and 'Betsey Bess
ut will probably interest general readers TO learn of
M nronossd educational medical and Spanish works which
are under preparation by d. Appleton Co.. but in
zion with the subscription department the may
be made that Appleton Co have become the pubshers
of Anthony Hope and Conan Doyle whose works are 70 be
Within the last year Appleton Co have increased their