1934-12-19 — Page 17

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER

· 1934.

WHAT MAKES THAT "BEST SELLER?"

By CECIL HUNT

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 elusive as the elixir of life. itself.

Picking winners on the courao name the author nowadays? Mrs. | is child's play compared with Humphry Ward's "Robert Elles- forecasting best-sellers. The mere" sold 10,000 a month for favourites invariably fall; often many moons, Jerome, when he they do not even start. Outsiders wrote "Three Mon in a Boat," was make incredible prees-and auch described as having perhaps the outsiders!

beat name of all in the book shops, after Shakespeare's.

n

Some years ago a reputable firm

Hansom decided that in this publishing "The Mystery of a gamble there must be a system Cab," phenomenal detective Homewhere. They set out deliber-seller, first published in Australia, ately to find the four best selling te soon followed by the evergreen: authora of the day. They had Sherlock Holmes. So far the per- their most popular works analysed centage of real survival is not con- I cannot imagine that by exports, who sifted out all the aiderable. Ingredients that had achieved Sarah Grand's "Heavenly Twink" still sells in quantity. Meredith .success,

at the time a publisher's reader,, advised its rejection.

Tens of thousands of Japanese welcomed Babe Ruth to Tokyo with a frensy of enthusiasm that sports celebrities seldom have encountered anywhere in the world. The milling mob swarmed in the strooli, surrounded his car and practically brought it to a standstill. Babe is shown at right, vociferous. ly greeting his welcomers with shouts and waving hand in reply to their "Banxxil"

con. Publication orders by the trade.

They pooled the four results and commissioned a competent novelist to write a book which embodied all From that to the "Sorrows' of these apparent assets. He did it Satan" by Marie Corolli is a far well; the firm were delighted, cry, but in between is placed a

volume They advertised the born Jungle Book." Not much

of enduring fame, Kipling's seller extensively. It was a com-j

clusiveness about this selection: pleto "flop."

Sales can REVOT be the only and the addition of Barrie, du criterion. There is always the Maurier, and Hall Caine scarcely psychological aspect, the effect the clarifies the issue. book he upon

the the masses, place wins in people's lives and conversation.

TIMES CHANGE

5,000,000 COPIES

men-

Victoria Cross must be tioned. Over 6,000,000 copies of

"JEW SUSS”.

Gardens, Kensington, when the accident occurred. The first_car was, turning into Vicarage Gate After all, why should "Jew and it obstructed her view of Miss Suns" sell? It was by n German Spalding. She was crossing the

unknown in practically

this road and Mrs. Gaussen's car country, and both author and knocked her down. book had names diMcult to pro-

Mrs. Gaussen's spred was al- nounce.

These small points have teged to have been 30 miles an considerable bearing upon the hour, and it was said that, after

"All

TOWER OF TRAGEDY

Paris, Dec, 10.

Whatever his enemies thought of

Nadays, when authors are no sold. Imaging Lucas Malet's credibly long, foreign in setting jured woman, she got back into burg, the Eiffel tower was dignified her "Anna Lombard" have been paychology of selling. It was in-į getting out and looking at the in-the late. Field Marshal von Hinden- lon or called upon to part with the "Richard Calmedy" will endure and it looked heavy and for her car and drove 10, until she the day after his death and dropped cas fright of best-sellers for £20-much longer in readers' memorie bidding. The trade was right in was stopped by th river of the long black banner in the breeza arharlotte M. Yonge did with than in publishers Hats. Horn being scared of it: the publle was first car

until sunset, The, man who took he Helr of Redclyffe"--it is ung. of "Amateur Crackaman"

Police Constable Reeve said that the tricolour down and put the psible roughly to link that de- fame, is dated, but A. E. Wright in discerning an eminently

is Eugene when he informed Mrs. Gaussen universal emblem up fite mass impression with a cer- Mason, O. Henry, and P. G. Wode-worthy best-seller.

house, are still topliners. tain sales figure-aay, 100,000,

Quiet **A The Wertern!

a very Mared,' chief mechanic of the Some best-sellers, one might any, One phenomenal seller Mr. Flower Front" made most modern record that she had committed ara predestinedi. The author's rightly mentions is "The Dop Doc- look childish, but I doubt its serious offence in driving away; tower and last survivor of the 99

she said: "I had a very important fame or the unpremeditated to tor." It was a Boer War story endurance beyond the Great War engagement for lunch. I thought technicians who directed its cree- picality of the theme ensure atten- which brought the author, "Richard generations. "It is possible that I would cancel it and come backtion in 1887. He then had but a tion. Others fall fat from the Dolan." a letter from, and subthe moving humanity of Deeping's later on"

minor job, as he was only 14 years press and suddenly leap, to huge sequent friendship with, Lady "Sorrell and Son," equally #

Baden-Powell. antes several months after.

She wrote first timely" novel, will outlast it. these recognisable in- congratulating the author on her Suences do not account for a tithe deep insight into "H-P,'" charac of the successes of a century, and ter. The author had never even it is no doubt the very eccentricity met him!

Bul

last century.

ad-

"SILLY" SUGGESTION

ákl.

He has seen nine persons leap to third (highest)

"All Quiet" apart., Priestley's Mrs. Gaussen, an alert woman "Good Companions" holds most for her years, was cautioned by death from the post-war records, but I would give i the greater “exprctation of life" to his "English Journey."

are

of the records that bas prompted As Miss "Clo" Graves, of course, Mr. Desmond Flower to collect for she was already well known, and the National Book Connell data remember siting in her Sussex

Clearly best-seller ability is an concerning the best-sellers of the retreat where birds flew in and elusive as genius, but by no means out of her room, and hearing of

was synonymous with 1: There His findings must give some mis- how, a week after the book was giving. They accuse us of pre-published, she was chatting with many books even the broadest brow would be glad to forget, but ferences we would gladly forget. friendly bookseller who

book

buyers have had their At times they flatter us with most mired her work. In reply to her triumphs. Any nation that can

to whether anything excellent judgment, and at others inquiry as

make. "The Bridge of San Luis they suggest we are fickle to the was selling, the man replied:

Rey" # best-seller is an asset to point of craziness. They imply "Only The Dop Doctor'--by sonie literature.

But by the that at one time we want wickly interloper!" sentiment. nt another political Skipping a few years, could any tokens it is completely incompre risk? Not satire; now sex, now spiritual two books be more contrasting hensible. Still, who would "mak epice. They reveal if we look than Anita Loog's "Gentlemen bank" without hontally, how few best-sellers sur. Prefer Blondes, A. S. M. ut publishers, surely, nor even real vive the test of time.

chinson's "If Winter Comes," and authors. To them it is the pre-

cious fe-blood of the game. Let us examine some of his later Feuchtwanger's "Jew Suss"? selections. "Little Lord Fauntie- latter is more interesting to the roy," first published in America. publisher. I believe it subscribed

The

is prominent period novel with only a few dozen coples in this Woman

a vengeance, and how few could country. Subscriptions are pre-

Driver's Negligence

sam!

FATALLY INJURED

PEDESTRIAN

LOOKED AT VICTIM AND DROVE ON

woman

Official celebration, of the recent Government victories «guinst the Reds in Klangsi 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 sloganı, wound its way through the native city.

the Coroner (Mr. Ingleby Oddie) storey, which is just over 900 feet. | before giving evidence. She said He saw five leap from the second It was "silly" to suggest she was storey. One was # woman with going at 30 miles an hour, she put child, who landed on the roof of 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 avoid her. She pulled up in 10 mother lived. About a hundred yards. She intended returning persons have leaped off the tower After she had been to a house

t death since Its erection. -United near by,

Press. The Coroner said he had fre-

An allegation that a motorist, aged 78, who knocked quently observed that it would be another. woman down,' got out of

good thing I overtaking at negligence was not gross and culpe her motor-ear, looked at her, and pedestrian crossing-places were able. They added a rider saying drove on, was made at an inquest prohibited. Had it been, this that no one as old as 78 should at Paddington recently

concern.

life.

ing the death of Miss Charlotte woman would not have lost her be allowed to drive. Beatrice Spalding, 77, of Gordon Place, Kensington.

Mr. Rhymer, who appeared for The Jury returned a verdict that Mrs. Gaussen, said she had not The motorist was Mrs. Mabel the woman died from injurica re-driven since the accident, and she Constance Gaussen, a widow, ofceived when she was knocked down was of opinion that she had come Howlands, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, by a motor-car driven negligently to the age when she should give and it was stated she was follow- ing another car in Brunswick by Mrs. Gausson, but that the it up.

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Premier Mussolini's plan to start the military training of Italian boys when they are eight yours old was epitomized in this scene at the 13th, annual celebration of the march on Rome that elevated him to power. A Fascist official is shown presenting a rifle to a member of the Ballita, young Fasciat organisation, while Meacolini looks on approvingly from the black draped

platform.

Shanghai Chinese Boy Scouts and Girl Guides collected a large sum of money for famine relief and ara

hare shown'paying in their collections,

Many other useful Gifts-Dainty Bags, Gloves, Hats, Com- pact Vanity Sets.. Stockings and other novelties.

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