Oct 15, 2019 the left book club was a left wing organization founded in 1936 by labor politician sir richard stafford cripps, sir victor gollancz, a publisher and humanitarian, and evelyn john st loe strachey a labor politician and writer in the united kingdom. Victor gollancz had hoped to recruit 10,000 members in the first year. It was founded in 1927 by victor gollancz and specialised in the publication of high quality literature, nonfiction and popular fiction, including crime, detective, mystery, thriller. It distributed leftwing political books aimed at the political education of the mass public it. Sir victor gollancz british author and publisher britannica.
He outlines the personalities of the principal characters, especially the editorial triumvirate. Sir victor gollancz 18931967 founded the left book club in 1936, nine years after he had established the publishing house that bears his name. His loyalties shifted between liberalism and communism, but he defined himself as a christian socialist and internationalist. Jan 15, 2020 victor gollancz was an effective and innovative publisher, a good writer and a political activist. In its first ten years, the club published six million books a quite staggering figure. The left book club was a leftwing organization founded in 1936 by labor politician sir richard stafford cripps, sir victor gollancz, a publisher and humanitarian, and evelyn john st loe strachey a labor politician and writer in the united kingdom. In 1936, gollancz was a cofounder of the left book club with the intention of halting the growth of fascism in europe and promoting socialism. Gollancz was one of the founders of the left book club, the first book club in the uk. The clubs distinct orange and red clothbound books combined mass publishing with mass politics, as organizer victor gollancz sought to educate his readership on poverty and unemployment, socialist theory, and the threat of fascism every. The book was edited by gollancz and included two essays by george orwell, fascism and democracy and patriots and revolutionaries.
Jewish propaganda books in britain 19081948 the jewish push towards wars was strong throughout this period. Members received one book a month, including george orwell s the road to wigan pier and edgar snow s red star over china. Victor gollanczs attempt to stop the holocaust the. At awesomebooks we believe that good quality and speed of service is what pleases our customers and according to this we have a product guarantee on all our books. That government founded the nhs and the welfare state. Professional musician with a second career heading the publishing company victor gollancz. Born to a family of orthodox jews of polish origin, gollancz attended st. Victor gollancz was appalled by this decision and in march 1941 the left book club published betrayal of the left. The manuscripts division is pleased to announce the acquisition of the publishing files of victor gollancz ltd relating to its influential left book club lbc, one of the first book clubs in england.
A detailed account of the left book club is given in the left book club. Victor gollancz was an effective and innovative publisher, a good writer and a political activist. Left book club with victor gollancz ltd, london, united kingdom, 1939. He had a knack for marketing, sometimes taking out fullpage newspaper advertisements for the books he published, a novelty at the time. Jul 29, 2001 left book club anthology edited by paul laity victor gollancz. The left book club was a leftwing society active in the uk between 1936 and 1948, founded and supported by the publisher victor gollancz, along with the socialist campaigner john strachey and the labour academic harold laski. Subscribers received one publication monthly for 5s. Apr, 2018 professional musician with a second career heading the publishing company victor gollancz. His aim was to popularise the ideas of the left and combat the rise of. The left book club was established in the context of the rise of fascism in europe and the economic depression, when the need for the dissemination of left wing politics was keenly felt among british intellectuals. It attempted to mobilize british opinion against hitler and agitated for a popular. At its heyday just before the second world war, the club had 57,000 members, each of whom was guaranteed. Victor gollancz and the left book club gordon barrick neavill abstract the left book club, which existed from 1936 to 1948, was the first modem book club in britain. November 1948 gollancz announced that the left book club and left news would cease.
His most extraordinary achievement was the left book club, which lasted from 1936 to 1948. The left book club was a british book club created by victor gollancz in 1936 to combat the rise of fascism and create the basis for a popular front through the marketing and largescale international distribution of leftwing books. Left book club collection special collections the university. The club was more than itself, it was a political movement and an education system of left politics. Left book club bids to crowdfund radical reading, with. The left book club was a publishing group that exerted a strong leftwing influence in great britain from 1936 to 1948. Ive included some material on war aims, and shown why these could not be honest. The left book club was founded and directed by the publishe victor gollancz, who remained the most important influence on the club throughout its history. Boards may have light wear, marks, fading or slight soiling. The left book club was a highly successful publishing enterprise, and it developed into the leading left.
The left book club in january 1936, the publisher, victor gollancz, had lunch with stafford cripps and john strachey, where they discussed the possibility of establishing a united front against fascism. Gollancz was often noted as a supporter of left wing causes. It distributed left wing political books aimed at the political education of the mass public it. He backed democratic socialism through his left book club as well as. Special collections and archives left book club collection. By the end of the first year the left book club had had 730 local discussion groups, and it estimated that these were attended by an average total of 12,000 people every fortnight.
Victor gollancz, the publisher and creator of the left book club, had decided to. The left book club had 45,000 members within 12 months and hundreds of local groups met and debated the books up and down britain. Contents show signs of previous use with small marks and thumbing otherwise a good book. Through the left book club, which he founded in 1936, he mobilized intellectuals and the public in the fight against fascism, and after world war ii he was a leader in organizing relief efforts in europe, especially in germany, through the save europe now campaign. Sir victor gollancz was a british publisher and humanitarian. The history and political orientation of the left book club, the first modern book club in britain, which existed from 1936 to 1948, is described. Gollancz also wrote himself and was a very active political campaigner. Eric ej043018 victor gollancz and the left book club. The best books, in beautiful collectable editions, direct to your door. Today, we need a left book club for the twentyfirst century. The original left book club was started by pioneering british publisher victor gollancz in 1936.
He also used eyecatching typography and book designs, and used yellow dustcovers on books. Pioneering british publisher victor gollancz founded the original left book club in 1936. It was during this meeting that gollancz suggested the idea of creating a left book club. As part of the bissett collection of left wing publications, the left book club editions represent publisher victor gollanczs effort to educate a mass audience in. Left book club for sale in uk 11 used left book clubs. Jul 01, 2001 this book is a great introduction to the left book club. Members received one book a month, including george orwells the road. Good condition but aged copy lacking jacket with scuffs to boards and rolling to corners. Gollancz was often noted as a supporter of leftwing causes. This is the gollancz first edition in left book club orange limp cloth binding. It is to help in the terribly urgent struggle for world peace and against fascism, by giving, to all. Ive chosen 1908 as the starting date, when norman angells the great illusion was published, to 1948, when the left book club was closed. With over 200 titles, the mahn center holds one of the largest sets of left book club lbc editions in the world.
Left book club bids to crowdfund radical reading, with help of chomsky. With fascism defeated, the left book club was closed down in 1948. Sir victor gollancz, british publisher, writer, and humanitarian who championed such causes as socialism and pacifism while managing a highly successful publishing business. All of the pages are intact and the cover is intact and the spine may show signs of wear. Publishing the left book club pul manuscripts news. The left book club, which existed from 1936 to 1948, was the first modern book club in britain. Membership subscriptions can be paid monthly or annually. Left book club history debates the education forum. This collection represents a set of the books published by victor gollancz on behalf of the left book club during the years 1936 to 1948. This book is a great introduction to the left book club. Jewish propaganda books in britain 19081948 big lies. Let my people go, cedric belfrage, left book club edition. Apr 23, 2010 victor gollancz had hoped to recruit 10,000 members in the first year. On 6 march i936, an advertisement appeared in the news chronicle announcing the establishment of the left book club.
The left book anthology brings together a number of extracts from left book club titles. Mass membership of the club helped turn the tide of public opinion against fascism and bring the 1945 labour government to power. The left book club was established in the context of the rise of fascism in europe and the economic depression, when the need for the dissemination of leftwing politics was keenly felt. By the end of the first year the left book club had had 730 local discussion groups, and it estimated that these were attended by. Strachey agreed and gollancz recommended that he and strachey with the addition of harold laski should constitute the club s selection committee. Strachey agreed and gollancz recommended that he and strachey with the addition of harold laski should constitute the clubs selection committee. It distributed leftwing political books aimed at the political education of the mass public. Apr 05, 2020 sir victor gollancz, british publisher, writer, and humanitarian who championed such causes as socialism and pacifism while managing a highly successful publishing business. The left book club occurred, i suppose, at the end of a huge social movement. Its primary purpose was to speak out against fascism and promote peace in the world through its publications.
Strachey agreed and gollancz recommended that he and strachey with the addition of harold laski should consti. His aim was to popularise the ideas of the left and combat the rise of fascism. Members received one book a month, including george orwells the road to wigan pier and edgar snows red star over china. Pioneered by victor gollancz, it offered a monthly book choice, for sale to members only, as well as a newsletter that acquired the status of a major political magazine. Left book club in sir victor gollancz through the left book club, which he founded in 1936, he mobilized intellectuals and the public in the fight against fascism, and after world war ii he was a leader in organizing relief efforts in europe, especially in germany, through the save europe now campaign. May 08, 2019 the manuscripts division is pleased to announce the acquisition of the publishing files of victor gollancz ltd relating to its influential left book club lbc, one of the first book clubs in england.
The first advertisement for the left book club appeared a month later. He had nothing but contempt all his life for the right wing leadership of the labour party. In 1936 british publisher victor gollancz founded the left book club to promote socialism and to educate the masses on the growing threat of fascism. The left book club was a highly successful publishing enterprise, and it developed into the leading left wing political movement of the 1930s in britain. The left book clubs achievement was due in part to the social and political conditions of the time, and to the character of its founder, victor gollancz. Every month, gollancz recommended a left leaning book and members received the book for a discounted price of two shillings and six pence. Yet he had a profound effect on politics in britain for at least two decades. More information about this seller contact this seller 25. Victor gollancz and the left book club gordon barrick neavill on. In november 1948 gollancz announced that the left book club and left news would cease. Further, in late 1937, there is evidence that victor gollancz, supported by nehru, was attempting to start a left book club in india in order to circumvent the ban. It distributed left wing political books aimed at the political education of the mass public.
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