The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-04-05
CAUSES OF CRAZE
FOR NOVEL READING.
Publisher Thinks That College
Literary Courses Drive
Many to 1t.

1t Is a had day for the publisher when
the book buyer begins TO read" is the
epigram Of q vell-krown publisher.
The author Of the epigram discussed the
other day the Increase Of novel reading and
its eject upon the demand for books other
than dcuOn
Only within the last ten years. he said.
had the great demand for fiction been the
most striking fact OF the publishing and
boOkseling business,
Long before that time Action had become
the most important Item in the publishing
OF England and the United States. but never
before lad so many successful novels been
published
He set down the increased circulation OF
novels 90 the growth in population. wealth
and education. and was hardly inclined TO
allow a suggestion that on the average the
quality OF fiction had greatly improved
within twenty or twenty-five years
Never before was the financial success OF
novelis;S so much talked about and written
about. and the effect was to stimulate novel
writing.
Not only are there mere novels than ever
before published. hut there are vastly more
than ever Before rejected BY the publishers.
II was doubtful. the publisher thought.
whether the increase IN the reading OF nc
ton had lesssDed the reading in other de-
psrtlents Of literature.
Many OF the new readers OF fiction are
persons who would read nothing else. and
lovers OF poetry. criticism. history. and
biograrsS have not been drawn away from
their favorite subjects by the fact that IN
known young men and women write novels
that sail hv she hunarade Of thousands
A large part Of the most intelligent and
cultivated readers gives very little time to
new fiction.
The fact tina; the colleges and universities
are giving more attention to the study OF
fiction Is a literary manifestation has given
fiction an importance that it did not once
have.
Another thing that the colleges ere doing.
the publisher thought. had lessened the
reading Of hooks proper to Hterature-that
is, the requirement that students preparing
for college shall read AID study by way OF
task masterpieces OF literature which most
such young persons in the natural course OF
their development: would not reach for
years after they had finished their pre-
paratory course.
TAe oEect was to drive many such stu
~ ~ anu " AlLAC III
hateful 10 them because they associated it
With Z distastefal task.
Doubtless many such young men and
women Fed JOyfuIly from the classics Of
the Language to the IiShtest and most
ephemeral OF modern novels.
Another comparatively new manifestation
OF the GOok-seiIing business TIE publisher
regarded as rather more detrimental 10 gem
erai reading than the popularity Of short
lived novels-this Il the large sale of Sub
scgiption hooks IN full sets.
Mast books thus issued are boush; main
" Is furniture. When a private library
comes into the market it l. commonly
found that subscription sets have never
been opened.
Their leaves are uncut IN any way; the
books have rsposed on the shelves as use
less. so far as the intellectual culture OF
the owner Is concerned. as the easy chairs
and the sndi-oas Such sets Of subscription
SoOks go into all sorts OF houses.
When they are sold to tho rich they do
rot make IL impossible that the purchaser
shall buy other books such as he Is ikeiy
to read But many pereons OF moderate
means buy the complete works OF this or
that author in subscription sets at prices
which preclude their buying any other
ooks
Whatever influence the novel may have
attracting the mass OF readers from
other forms Of literature was In c0nS6era-
be part counteracted. he thought. by the
large issue of excellent books In handy
fo-A-
The dainty ard relatively expensive books |
of the kind have no very large sale. but /
several publishers Issue the best literature !
In very cheap form. !
These books offend the taste OF those who
Ike veIl-nade books. but they bring the
best literature within the reach OF thou
sands who could get 1t In no other way. ez-
eept through circulating libraries. and
there are millions who have no access to
libraries OF any kind /
Perhaps sone of the new readers via
have been attracted by the popular novels
OF the cay thus form the habit Of reading.
and eventually stray ia;e Other and better
kinds Of literature.