One hundred years ago
IT IS hardly credible to those who have watched the deluge of volumes which have poured this year from the press, that many fewer have actually been published than were published last year, — the total being 4,694 new books in 1889, against 4,960 in 1888; while there have been only 1,373 new editions in 1889, against 1,631 in 1888. The only classes of new books which have in- creased in number are "juvenile books and tales," and "novels, tales, and other fiction," "year-books and serials in volumes," and technical books on medi- cine and surgery. . . . But for the grow- ing rage for novels, for grown-up people and children alike, the falling-off in the production of volumes would be very considerable. Whether, as the number of volumes falls off, the quality im- proves, is not a question for the statisti- cian. We fear not. If we could but have a year of genuine fasting from new literature, we might look more hopeful- ly to the future. But a literary Lent is not easily attainable.
The Spectator, 4 January 1890
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