THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1934.
WHAT MAKES THAT
"BEST SELLER?"
By CECIL HUNT
THE
THE Archbishop of Canterbury's humorous reference in a recent speech to the best-sellers that, given dic- tatorial powers, he would burn because they "lowered the standard of literature," adds interest to this survey of books which have been sensational-and unpredicted- successes. A best-seller is one of the wonders of the world; its formula almost as clusive as the elixir of life itself.
дь
Was
Picking winners on the course name the author nowadays? Mrs. is child's play compared with Humphry Ward's "Robert Elles- forecasting best-sellers, Themere" sold 10,000 a month for favourites, Invariably fall; often many moons. Jerome, when he they do not even start. Outsiders wrole Three Men In a Bont, make Incredible pacos-and such described as having perhaps the outaldera
best name of all in the book shops, Some years ago a reputable firm after Shakespeare's, decided that in this publishing The Mystery of a Hansom gamble there must be a system Cab." phenomenal detective somewhere. They set out deliber-seller, Arst published in Australia, ately to and the four best selling is soon followed by the evergreen authors of the day. They had Sherlock Holmes. So far the por their most popular works analysed centage of real survival is not cons by experts, who sifted out all the siderable. I cannot imagine that ingredients that had achieved Sarah Grand's "Heaving Twins AUCCESS.
still sells in quantity, Meredith at the time a publisher's render, advised its rejection.
They pooled the four results and commissioned a competent novelist to write a book which embodled all these apparent assets. He did it well; the firm were delighted,
They advertised the born best seller extensively. It was a com- picto "flop."
Sales.can never be the only eriterion. There is always the paychological aspect, the effect the book has upon the masses, the place it wins in people's lives and converantion.
TIMES CHANGE
From that to the "Sorrows of Satan" by Marle Corelli is a far cry, but in between in placed a volume of enduring fame. Kipling's "Jungle Book." Not much con- clusiveness about this selection- and the 'addition of Barrie, du Maurier, and Hall Caine scarcely clarifica the issue.
5,000,000 COPIES
тел-
Tons of thousands of Japanııa welcomed Babe Ruth to Tokyo with a frenzy of enthusiasm that sporta celeviser seidom have encountered anywhere in the world. The milling mob swarmad in the atreaty, surrounded his car and practically brought it to a standstill. Babe Is shown at right, vociferans- ly greating his welcomers with shouts and waving hand in reply to their “Banzail” -
publication orders by the Irade,
"JEW SUSS"
pro-
Gardens, Konsington, when the
accident occurred. The Arst can TOWER OF
al-
an
was turning into Vicarage Gate After all, why should Jew and it obstructed her view of Misa Suss" mell? It was by a German Spalding. She was crossing the practically unknown in this road und Mrs. Gaussen's car country, and both author and knocked her down. book had names difficult to Victoria Cross, must be
nounce. These small points have tioned. Over 5,000,000 copies of
considerable bearing upon the her "Ann Lombard" have been Nowadays, when authors are no sold. 1 imaging Lucas Matera paychology of selling. It was in longer called upon to part with the "Richard Calmedy" will endure credibly long, foreign in setting copyright of best-sellers for £20-much longer in readers' memories bidding. The trade was right in as Charlotte M. Yonge did with than in publishers' lists. Horn being scared of it: the public was
The Heir of Redclyffe"-it isjung. of "Amateur Cracksman" possible roughly to link that de- fome, is dated, but A. E. Wright in discerning an eminently
worthy best-seller. finite mass impression with a cer- Mason, O. Henry, and P. G. Wode- tain anew figure—say, 100,000, house, are still toplinern.
Some bust-sellers, one might say, are predestined.
The author's
One phenomefal seller Mr. Flower rightly mentions is "The Dop Doc
and it looked heavy
on the
and for-
Western
"All Quiet Front" made most modern rerorda look childish, but I doubt its
TRAGEDY
Mrs. Gaussen's speed wRS
Paris, Dec. 10. leged to have been 30 miles hour, and it was said that, after
Whatever his enemies thought of getting out and looking at the in- the late Field Marshal von Hinden- jured woman, she got back into burg, the Eiffel tower was dignified her car and drove on, until she the day after his death and dropped first car. was stopped by the driver of the long bingk banner in the breeze until sunset. The man who took Police Constable Reeve said that the tricolour down and put the when he informed Mrs. Gaussen universal emblem up is Eugene that she had committed avery Marcel,, chief mechanic of the serious offence in driving away.
would ranged it and enne back ion if 1887. He then had but a ngagement for lunch. I thought technicfans who directed ita erec-
Interion."
minor/Joh, as he was only 14 years
fame or the unpremeditated to tor." It was a Boer War story enduraned beyond the Great War, she said: "I had a very important lower and last survivor of the 99
Baden-Powell..
pleality of the theme ensure atten- which brought the author, "Richard generations. It is possible that tion. Others fall dat from the Dehan," a letter from, and sub-the moving humanity of Dooping'a press and suddenly leap to huge sequent friendship with, Lady Sorrell and Son,
vignally sules several months after,
She wrote first"mely" novel, with outlast. It. Bui
theav recognisable in congratulating the author on her fluences do not necount for a tithe | deep insfght into “B.P."s" charac- of the surcessis of a century, and ter." The author had fever even it is no doubt the very eccentricity met him!
Hla Rodings must give some mis- how, a week after the book wht
|
"SILLY" SUGGESTION
“Al Qulet" apart, Peinadosla Des. Ganssen, an alert woman "Good Companions" holds most for her yours, was cautione post-war recorda, bạt k-would give the greater exp,etation of Bre" to his "English Journgs,
Thore
Clearly best goller 'ability is an lusty as genias, but by na mou- synonymous with it. many books even this nomadent; brow would be glad to forget, but | triumphs. Any nation that enn book buyers have had their! make. The Bridge of San Luis Rey" best-seller is an asset to literature. But by the sam tokens it is completly incompre-
without a rick? Not
of the records that his prompted As Miss "Cloy Graves, of course, Mry Desmond Flower to collect for she was alrently well known, and the National Book Council datą] I remember sting in her Sussex concerning the best-sellers of the retreat where birds New in and fast century.
out of her room, and hearing of giving. They acrase us of pre-published, she was rhatting with ferences we would gladly forget. friendly bookseller who ad At times they later us with most mired her work, la reply to her excellent judgment, and at others Inquiry us in whether anything they suggest we are fickle to the was selling.
the man replied: paint of craziness. They imply "Only "The Dop Doctorby some that at one time we want sickly -Interloper?" sentiment, at another political Skipping a few years, could any salire; now RUX, now spiritual two books be more contrasting hensible. Still, who wogh! "nak- epica. They reveal, if we look than Anita Loos's "Gentlemen honk honestly, how few host-sellers sur- Prefer Blondng." A. S. M. Hut-publishers, surely, nor even real vive the test of time.
| chinson's "If Winter Comes, and thers. To them it is the presi
Let us examine some of his later Feuchtwanger's "Jow Suas" The stous life-blood of the gume. elcetions. "Little Lord Fauntle- latter is more interesting to the
roy," first published in America, publisher," I belleve it subscribed
is prominent-a period novel with only a few dozen copies in this Woman
a vingennee, and how few could country. Subscriptions aré -pre-
Driver's Negligence
FATALLY INJURED
PEDESTRIAN
He has seen nine persona leap to death from the third (highest)
Official celebration of the recent Government victories against the Keas in Kiangai and Fukien were carried out by public bodies in Shanghai who arranged a series of events. Our picture shows a portion of the motor car procession which, decorated with flags and slogans, wound its way through the native city.
The Coroner (Mr. Ingleby Oddle)sturey, which is just over 900 feel. before giving evidence. She said lie saw five leap from the second t was "silly" to suggest she was storey. One was EL going at 30 miles an hour, she put child, who landed on the roof of woman with it at 15 or 20 miles. The woman,
suddenly came right in front of the first story. The child died, the her car and she had no chance to roof was severely damaged but the i avoid her. She pulled up in 10 mother lived. About a hundred yards, She intended returning, persons have leaped off the tower LOOKED AT VICTIM after she had been to a house to death since its eraction.--United
AND DROVE ON
near by.
Preas
The Coroner suid he had fre An allegation that a woman matorist, aged 78, who knockel quently observed that it would be another woman down, got out of a good thing if overtaking atļuegligence was not groes and tulps ber motor-ear, looked at her, and pedestrian crossing-places were able. They added a rider saying drove on, was made at an biqueat prohibited. Had it heen. this that no one as old as 78 should at Paddington recently concern- woinun would not have lost here allowed to drive. ing the death of Miss Charlotte Beatrice Spalding, 77, of Gordion life.
Place, Kensington.
Mr. Rhymer, who appeared for
The jury returned a verdict that Mrs. Gausson, and she had not
The motorist was. Mrs. Mabel the woman died from injuries re-driven since the neeldent, and she Constance Gaussen, a widow, of coked when she was knocked down was of opinion that she had come Howlanda, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, and it was stated she was follow-by a motor-car drivon aegligently to the age when she should give ing another in Brunswicky Mrs. Gaussen, but that the it up.
Car
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HONG KONG
PRACTICAL and IN XPENSIVE
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Premier Musolini's plan to start the military training of Italian boys when they are sight years-old was epitomized in this scene at the 13th, manual celebration of the march on Roma. that elevated him to power. A Fascist official la shown presenting a rifle to a member of the Ballila, young Fasclat organization, while Mussolini looks on approvingly from the black draped
platform.
Shanghai Chinato Boy Scouts and Girl Guides oclint.ad a large sum of manay for faminu:rallef and Aru
here shown paying in thair collections.
Many other useful Gifts-Dainty Bags, Gloves, Hats, Com- pact Vanity Sets, Stockings and other novelties.
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