your article beautifully captures the significance of Victor Gollancz’s vision and relentless drive. I was struck by how you conveyed the urgency and hope surrounding the Left Book Club’s inception. Your description of the Club as a collection of books and a movement for education and change is compelling. You did a wonderful job shedding light on this lesser-known history chapter with clarity and insight.
Another tremendously informative article. I had no clue that Gollancz, like the Macmillans, made such a gigantic impact on society through his work. I love your pics of those absolutely beautiful editions of the books 😍
That was such an absorbing read, showing again how literacy is the key to everything. If you can read you have the means to unlock your potential. To think that the Left Book Club probably resulted in the giant strides made by Labour after the war. Amazing.
He is remembered to some- Gollancz was one of the leading publishers of science fiction in Britain, with many of the leading authors in that field publishing for it.
The subscription model the Club operated on has been revived successfully online by the likes of Kickstarter, Indigogo, and Go Fund Me- but the Club members would not agree with their capitalist motivations...
Fascinating — I knew none of this. That is, I knew Gollancz’s name as a publisher, but with only the vaguest of associations beyond that. This was mesmerizing to read about.
Brilliant piece. I am really enjoying your writing. I remember borrowing Gollancz science fiction books from the central library in Hull back in the 1970s. I don’t know that there was so much more to him. Just as you showed me that there was so much more to MacMillan last week.
Fascinating. I was aware of the Left Book Club but for me the name Gollancz (and the iconic yellow covers) have Eve stronger associations as the most important UK publisher of science fiction for many years, bringing US and other overseas SF authors to British readers but also giving first exposure to a generation of UK writers. So much so that when I as a very naive 20-year old had a novel I thought worth publishing I sent it to them. I even got a nice letter back, though obviously it was a rejection. (And reading it over years later, it never deserved anything else.)
Yet another wonderful piece of social history Sarah. At the age of 70 I have been reading as widely as I can for many years and I still believe that being able to read is the greatest achievement. But having an open mind and the ability to disseminate these amazing stories about the lives of individuals who believed in the education of the common people as you do, is the most amazing achievement of all.
It wasn't till I started writing that I saw all the parallels with the Macmillans, really enjoyed thinking about them. I think Alexander would have approved.
What a great piece. VG's story is another book waiting to be written - do you think?
your article beautifully captures the significance of Victor Gollancz’s vision and relentless drive. I was struck by how you conveyed the urgency and hope surrounding the Left Book Club’s inception. Your description of the Club as a collection of books and a movement for education and change is compelling. You did a wonderful job shedding light on this lesser-known history chapter with clarity and insight.
Thank you, Jon, I'm always so grateful for your support, it means a lot
Another tremendously informative article. I had no clue that Gollancz, like the Macmillans, made such a gigantic impact on society through his work. I love your pics of those absolutely beautiful editions of the books 😍
That was such an absorbing read, showing again how literacy is the key to everything. If you can read you have the means to unlock your potential. To think that the Left Book Club probably resulted in the giant strides made by Labour after the war. Amazing.
He is remembered to some- Gollancz was one of the leading publishers of science fiction in Britain, with many of the leading authors in that field publishing for it.
The subscription model the Club operated on has been revived successfully online by the likes of Kickstarter, Indigogo, and Go Fund Me- but the Club members would not agree with their capitalist motivations...
Fascinating — I knew none of this. That is, I knew Gollancz’s name as a publisher, but with only the vaguest of associations beyond that. This was mesmerizing to read about.
Brilliant piece. I am really enjoying your writing. I remember borrowing Gollancz science fiction books from the central library in Hull back in the 1970s. I don’t know that there was so much more to him. Just as you showed me that there was so much more to MacMillan last week.
Fascinating. I was aware of the Left Book Club but for me the name Gollancz (and the iconic yellow covers) have Eve stronger associations as the most important UK publisher of science fiction for many years, bringing US and other overseas SF authors to British readers but also giving first exposure to a generation of UK writers. So much so that when I as a very naive 20-year old had a novel I thought worth publishing I sent it to them. I even got a nice letter back, though obviously it was a rejection. (And reading it over years later, it never deserved anything else.)
Darn autocorrect changing ‘even’ to ‘Eve’.
Yet another wonderful piece of social history Sarah. At the age of 70 I have been reading as widely as I can for many years and I still believe that being able to read is the greatest achievement. But having an open mind and the ability to disseminate these amazing stories about the lives of individuals who believed in the education of the common people as you do, is the most amazing achievement of all.
That's so kind, Wendy, thank you!
It wasn't till I started writing that I saw all the parallels with the Macmillans, really enjoyed thinking about them. I think Alexander would have approved.
This was such an inspiring story! Thanks for the research and clarity. (I do hope it becomes a book!)