28 OCTOBER 1938, Page 46

THE HOUSE OF DENT, 1888-1938 — t The late J.

M. Dent's memoirs of his life as a bookbinder, printer and publisher appeared ten years ago, two years after his death. His sini;iMr. Hugh R. Dent; haanow re-issued the book, with four. additional chapters so as to Celebrate the jubilee .of the well-known publishing houie that J. M. Dent founded in a very humble way in 1888. Reading the memoirs again, one is impressed anew with the courage of the young North-Country tradesman who, on is little borrowed capita!, determined to publish the English classics that he loved in a • cheap` and attractive form. Older -readers who remember how the first Temple Shakespeare opened 'a new era in English book production can best apPreCiate what we owe to J. M. Dent. It is pleaSant to learn from his son's new chapters that the firm adheres M. its founder's Principles, though the range of its publietirions. has been widened in recent_ years. Everyman's Library,- begurfin-1906, will, he says, soon reach . . _thousandth- volume;