LEFT BOOK CLUB

In the Spring of 1977, the Library purchased a virtually complete collection (approximately 230 volumes) of the books issued by the Left Book Club between 1936 and 1948. The Library also acquired a complete run of the Left Book Club News. All materials are catalogued.

A checklist of the collection, marked for Princeton holdings, is found in Appendix II of John Lewis. The Left Book Club: An Historical Record. (London, 1970) [(ExB) Z549.L4L45]. See also: S. Samuels, "The Left Book Club" in the Journal of Contemporary History I (1966) pp. 65-86.

At the same time as the purchase of the Left Book Club collection, the Library acquired a complete collection of the 40 titles issued by the Labour Book Service under the auspices of the British Labour Party between 1936 and 1946. As well, it also acquired a collection of 57 titles issued by the Right Book Club in London under imprint of W. and G. Foyle, Ltd. between 1937 and 1950. Both collections are catalogued.

 "The Left Book Club was established in 1936 by the publisher Victor Gollancz and its membership peaked at 57,000 in 1939. Its aims centred around an effective resistance to fascism, the prevention of war, and the promotion of socialism as a cure for poverty. Over their 12-year publishing history they published some 257 books and pamphlets, many of which were commissioned works by writers such as George Orwell, Stephen Spender, and John Strachey. ... The Right Book Club was formed in June 1937 by Christina Foyle, daughter of the founder of Foyle’s Bookshop, London. To her and its members the aim and the enemy were clear: to oppose and fight against Socialism, Communism and Left propaganda. It was a rival to the Left Book Club, publishing some 134 titles." -- Donald J. Kerr.