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Wayne State University School of Library and Information Science Faculty School of Library and Information Science Research Publications 9-1-1971 Victor Gollancz and the Left Book Club Gordon B. Neavill Wayne State University, [email protected] Recommended Citation Neavill, G. B. (1971). Victor Gollancz and the left book club. Library Quarterly, 41(3), 197-215. Available at: http://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/slisfrp/53 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Library and Information Science at DigitalCommons@WayneState. It has been accepted for inclusion in School of Library and Information Science Faculty Research Publications by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@WayneState. T HE LIBAY QUARTERLY Volume JULY 1971 Number3 VICTORGOLLANCZ AND THE LEFT BOOKCLUB GORDON BARRICK NEAVILL ABSTRACT The Left Book Club, which existed from 1936 to 1948, was the first modem book club in Britain. It distributedleft-wing political books aimed at the political educationof the mass public. It attemptedto mobilize British opinion against Hitler and agitated for a Popular Front and a collective security alliance.The Left Book Club was foundedand directedby the publisherVictor Gollancz,who remainedthe most importantinfluence on the club through- out its history. The Left Book Club was a highly successfulpublishing enterprise, and it de- veloped into the leading left-wing political movementof the 1930s in Britain. It attracted wide-rangingsupport, from Communiststo left-wingLabourites and many Liberals.Its selec- tions documentthe outlook of most of the British Left of the 1930s and indicate the range of its interests.The author outlines the history of the club. The club is placed in the context of the political events of the 1930s and in the context of Gollancz'spublishing career, his political beliefs, and his concern for political education.Its organizationas a book dub is descnrbed,and the rangeof its selectionsand activities is indicated.The last years of the Left Book Club, althoughof declininginfluence, illustrate the courseof the British Left from the disillusionmentfollowing the Nazi-Soviet Pact and the split with the Communiststo the concems of the non-CommunistLeft duringWorld War II and the election of the Labour governmentin 1945. Althoughit failed in its originalgoals, the Left Book Club helped shape the political thinkingof a generationof British leftists. The article is based on a variety of sources,especially detailed records of the club'sactivities in its monthlypublication Left News. BEGINNINGS March, and the first month's books The Left Book Club was foundedin weredistributed in May. The plan was the springof 1936 by the Englishpub- to distributeone politicalbook a month lisher Victor Gollanczfor the purpose to membersat the bargainprice of two of "equippingpeople to fight against shillingsand sixpence.The books were war and Fascism."The club was in- to be publishedby Gollancz and se- tended as an educationalorganization. lected by a committee consisting of Gollanczhoped that, if enoughpeople Gollancz,John Strachey,and Harold could be awakenedto the danger of Laski. They hopedthe club would find fascism,the British governmentwould a membershipof 5,000. be forced to take strong measures The responsewas good. There were against Hitler in time to prevent a 9,000 members to receive the first second world war. The first advertise- month'sbooks. Within twelve months ment announcingthe club appearedin membershiphad passed 40,000, and at 197 198 THE LIBRARY QUARTERLY its peak in 1939 the membership stood a horror, the sort of horror that goes at 57,000. Starting as an ordinary book about with a man and never leaves him, club, the Left Book Club developed into of two abominations . poverty the leading left-wing movement of the and war" [3, p. 33]. Gollancz's back- 1930s in Britain. In 1939 David Lloyd ground was Liberal. He moved to the George called the Left Book Club "one Labour party early in life, and in the of the most remarkable movements in 1930s his socialism became strongly in- the political field in two generations" fluenced by Marxism. In the early years [1, no. 37 (May 1939), p. 1258]. At its of the Left Book Club he worked so peak there were 1,200 Left Book Club closely with the Communists that a discussion groups throughout Britain; favorite topic of debate among his asso- specialist groups for poets, scientists, ciates was whether he was actually a actors, and many others; and Left Book member of the party. Club organizations overseas. The club Gollancz held a passionate belief in sponsored mass rallies, summer schools, the need for political education. When political-education classes, speaking the Left Book Club was founded, he tours by Left Book Club authors, and later recalled, "our very salvation de- amateur left-wing theatrical produc- pended on the political education of the tions. It attempted to reach an even masses" [1, no. 110 (August 1945), p. larger audience through pamphlets and 3252]. For two years, during World leaflets. By the time it ceased activities War I, Gollancz taught at an English in October 1948, the Left Book Club public school. He found widespread had issued 257 books, ranging from political ignorance at the school, and in volumes filled with facts and analysis response he introduced political edu- to volumes of propaganda,with a num- cation and civics classes. Years later, ber of books of enduring merit. one of his students wrote that he had "The aim of the Club," announced an been "imbued by Gollancz with the early brochure, "is a simple one: it is liberal faith that the evils of the world to help in the terribly urgent struggle could best be set right by more and for World Peace and a better social and more liberal education" [4, p. 78]. It economic order and against Fascism, by was a faith that Gollancz would carry giving (to all who are determined to with him throughout his publishing play their part in the struggle) such career. knowledge as will immensely increase In 1928, after seven years as manag- their efficiency." Gollancz also hoped ing director of the firm of Ernest Benn, that the club would attract "the very Gollancz founded his own publishing many who, being fundamentally well firm. He was a daring and innovative disposed, hold aloof from the fight by publisher, and he was determined to reason of ignorance or apathy." reach and influence the mass audience. The driving force behind the Left His distinctive and economical house Book Club was Gollancz. Strachey has style, designed by Stanley Morison, was described him as "Capitalist and So- enormouslysuccessful. The typographic cialist: man of the world and latter day book jackets on cheap yellow paper in- saint: Jew and Christian: rationalist stantly identified a book as one of Gol- and theologian: rebel and traditionalist" lancz's and practically shrieked for at- [2, p. 217]. "I have lived . ," Gol- tention from the bookseller's table. lancz wrote in his autobiography,"with Gollancz issued many of his books in VICTOR GOLLANCZAND THE LEFT BOOK CLUB 199 huge editions at unusuallylow prices lisher and the reader,he said, lay "an and startledthe dignifiedbook world by invisible barrier across which it was promotingthem with spectacularadver- almost impossible to get progressive tising campaigns.Gollancz ensured fi- literatureinto the hands of the general nancialsecurity for his firmwith a gen- public" [1, no. 110 (August 1945), p. eral list based on popular fiction and 3252]. One incident in particularin- detective stories. But his central mis- furiatedhim. In 1934 he publisheda sion lay in publishingprogressive polit- book by R. D. Charquesand A. H. ical books. Ewen called Profits and Politics in tke The depressionstruck Britain shortly Post-War World. Gollancz had been after Victor Gollancz Limited was impressedby the book and hoped it founded. "I asked myself," Gollancz would be widely influential.But the has writen, "whatlittle could I do?- booksellerswere uninterestedand re- and answered. 'You can help to en- fused to acceptmore than a few copies, lightenpeople; you can showthem that, even after personalmessages from Gol- if capitalismpersists, this sort of crisis lanczstressing its importance. is inevitable,and the final result will Gollanczwas convincedthat a public be war.' That was the beginningof my existed for his political books, if only active politicalpublishing" [5, p. 351]. it couldbe reached.A bookclub was the WhenHitler came to powerin 1933, ideal solution to his dilemma.With a Gollancz'spolitical publishingacceler- book club he wouldhave a guaranteed. ated. "Before,it had been a questionof audience,and it would enable him to enlighteningpeople, in a general sort offer politicalbooks at the lowest pos- of way, about the causes of war: now sible price. In the United States the it was a questionof preventinga war Book-of-the-MonthClub had been op- that was just roundthe corner.Sense of eratingsince 1926, but in Britainthere urgencygave way to maddenedfever- wereas yet no bookclubs in the modern ishness: no more than a split second, sense.' The Left Book Club was to be now,in whichto pull up one's feet from the first. the quagmire!"[5, pp. 352-53]. In a The originalidea for the Left Book letterwritten at the time the Left Book Club did not come from Gollancz.In Club was founded,Gollancz declared, .935 the Workers'Bookshop, the lead- "I have spent very many hours a day ing Communistbooksellers in London, during the last five years thinking of had proposeda book club to offertitles nothing but how to use this business chosen from the lists of all publishers (a) for general Socialist propaganda, of left-wingbooks. Gollancz and several (b) to lead that propagandafurther other publisherswere interested, but and furtherto the Left" [6]. independentcapital was lacking and Some of Gollancz'spolitical books nothingcame of the plan [7, 8].

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