Very few books are published between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. This slack period is a condition imposed upon publishers by booksellers who, eternally hopeful, believe that about Thanksgiving time people commence to buy books as presents for the holidays and that they (the booksellers) will be so busy waiting on the hordes of book buyers that no time would be left in which to see publishers’ salesmen. Publishers, therefore, issue a greater proportion of the season’s books during October and November. Last month’s crop was heavy and interesting and again this month many juicy items appear on the lists. Here are some previews of the month’s high spots.
Canterbury Tales—All of Chaucer’s rollicking ribald, human tales rendered into modern English by J. U. Nicolson and illustrated by Rockwell Kent. A beautiful example of modern bookmaking. ($3. 75 Nov. 5).
Glory Hunter—A biography of General Custer by Frederick F. Van de Water, who was once a book reviewer. This is a fascinating rapid moving yarn. ($3. 75 Nov. 7).
The Cingalese Prince—A travel book by Brooks Atkinson, dramatic editor of The New York Times, the result of a long ocean voyage he took last summer. Very mellow and readable. ($3. 00 Nov. 8).
Little Orvie—Booth Tarkington, whose name might be familiar to you, has again written about Little Orvie. It is illustrated. ($2. Nov. 8).
Women Must Work—A new novel by the English poet, Richard Aldington, in which he unfolds the story of an English girl who goes to London and tries to earn a more or less honest living. Different because Aldington really understands women. ($. 2. 50 Nov. 9).
Six Soviet Plays—Eugene Lyons, the United Press Russian correspondent who changed his mind about the Soviet, offers six plays on the Russian scene. Elmer Rice supplies the introduction. ($3. 00 Nov. 8).
Ziegfeld—A biography of the beautifier of American womanhood by Eddie Cantor, writing by David Freedman. Pretty thin stuff but of mild interest to playgoers. ($2. 00 Nov. 9).
Portraits And Prayers—The un-understandable Gertrude Stein’s latest. No one but Miss Stein really knows what she is saying but it is thought that the book contains. Prose portraits of some of our better known literati and artists. ($2. 50 Nov. 15).
Tarabas—Joseph Roth, the Jewish writer, the author of “Job,” has written a moving and strong story of a Russian soldier who reacts typically to life. ($2. 50 Nov. 16).
All In The Name Of God—Rev. Everett S. Clinchy, the young minister who has been so active in the good will movement between the various religious denominations, has written an inspiring book on this theme. ($2. Nov. 18).
The World Outside—Hans Fallada, who wrote “Little Man What Now” last year, has done another about the downtrodden. This one tells of the trials and tribulations of an ex-convict in his effort to adjust himself to conditions in the outside world. A serious, sincere novel. ($2. 50 Nov. 22).
NEW BRINIG BOOK
Myron Brinig, who is now living in New Mexico, has just completed his new novel, “Michael Singermann,” according to the announcement of his publishers, Farrar and Rinehart.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
