@@gommine Yea but you can only see the likes. So it's really a useless metric. So I think it's kinda a silly thing to participate in. If you can't see the dislikes then you shouldn't be able to see the likes either.
You are the absolute best Book Tuber. Your videos are informative and entertaining, and really help me decide what to read. Your descriptions of the books are brilliant. I love your enthusiasm.
Of all the BookTubers, you are the most personable and enthusiastic! Thank you! And so good to see that Penguins published so many women authors, right from the start.
Fascinating! I have to read those. In one of my favorite book, George Orwells "Homage to Catalonia", he talks of sitting in the trenches in Spain reading penguin paperbacks. They were new then.
I have indeed read The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club. It’s one of my favorite Wimsey mysteries. Christie and Sayers books are certainly very different in every way. But I have read and loved them both all my life.
What a timely video! I just grabbed this exact same collection at my local secondhand bookstore! It cost only $7 CAD, and I am so happy to hear from a scholar like you that all of these works are (hidden) gems :)
You reminded me of a little boy at Christmas...your surprise and joy with this book set is so fun to watch! I just finished reading The Mysterious Affair at Styles last week! I want to read more of that series, but with just a touch of OCD, i start at the beginning and read them in order.
Once again you made me add more books to my ever-growing list. At this point I don't know if I will live long enough! I added 'Madame Claire' and 'Carnival'.
In Love and War was based on a non-fiction book by someone in a relationship with Hemingway which purportedly served as the basis of the novel A Farewell to Arms. A Farewell to Arms has been adapted to film twice but not since the 50's, I believe. Probably also a TV adaptation or two
Love this! Love these books. Since I started following your channel, in the last year, I’ve accumulated more than 50 Penguin Black Classic books. I’ve read most of them and now if I start collecting the Orange I’m telling my husband it’s your fault. 😂. These are awesome. 🙌🏼 📚🤩
@@tristanandtheclassics6538 Tristan. I am about to buy my third bookshelf!! 😂 And it makes interior design decisions easier! I work on my computer all day. So I turned my old unused sitting room into my new & much more comfortable cozy reading room. With my collection of classics, science fiction and fantasy novels - plus my super cushy reading chair - this space is my destination to keep in touch with my imagination, my joy and my inner peace. Thank you!! 🙏🏻
Of the 10 books, I had only heard of two of them, Farewell to Arms and The Mysterious Affair at Styles, and like you, I can't remember "who done it". However, the book, "The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club", sounded rather interesting, so, since I'm taking a trip to Canada in the next week, I ordered it on-line so that I can read it on the plane. Thank you for your description.
I think that the eclectic choice of books was part of Allen Lane's genius. All the books were reprints belonging to then famous publishers. He wanted to appeal across the brows so to speak, beginning with the high brow Ariel. He knew that the original format, the series colour and design and of course the pricing would help move the books in Smiths and Woolworth's. I read that while working for his uncle (Bodley Head) that Lane went over to France in 1924 and met Andre Maurois. That might be the connection that led to Maurois headlining the series. It is fascinating to note that Lane was a shrewd businessman, but also like the founders of several cheap classic series, interested in educating the masses. One of his greatest achievements was his publication of E V Rieu's The Odyssey.
My parents have that exact set on their shelf at home! And by coincidence I just picked up the Bellona Club (in a different edition) in a charity shop the other day. Now I need to get on and read it😊
Hi Tristan. Thank you for a really interesting video. I remember Gone to Earth being made into a film with Jennifer Jones , also she wrote another lovely book called Precious Bane I think which was also a lovely story .
Simply Masterful! I continue to enjoy your presentations expressly because of your incredible enthusiasm for reading, learning and books ….. great and not so great. You will be remembered in history as a major part of encouraging love of learning and improving literacy. Congratulations for a tremendous channel and masterful management of your talent ant subjects you present!
What a fabulous collection. I’ve only read the Agatha Christie novel but also own A Farewell to an Arms and hope to read it this year. I also fancy trying The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club as I love a mystery.
We are peas in a pod Jenny. There's not much that I prefer than a good mystery/suspense. We'll have to compare notes on it after we've read it. I'm finishing a P D James first, though I have read the first three chapters of Bellona.😀❤️
I just did a google & found this - the Guinness Book of World Records lists Christie as the best-selling novelist of all time. Her novels have sold roughly 2 billion copies worldwide, and her estate claims that her works come third in the rankings of the world's most-widely published books (behind Shakespeare's works and the Bible). That is 2 billion, so far as people are still purchasing her work.
Oddly enough, the only one of these I've read besides Agatha Christie is Gone to Earth. If people have heard of Mary Webb these days, it's usually for Precious Bane (which is wonderful). But Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger did a lovely adaption of Gone to Earth in 1950 with Jennifer Jones (and loads of conflict with David O. Selznick, of course, who made an alternate edit of the film for American release). It's also notable for being one of the books Stella Gibbons parodied in Cold Comfort Farm.
so jealous!! i have been wanting to get these original penguin books and yeah in NZ it is pretty much not going to happen with the 2nd hand stores we have. love the vintage penguins, great score Tristan, especially the condition they are in. There is another Brit on youtube by the name Jules Burt and he has the biggest original first edition vintage penguin classic collection (almost like 3000 of them) which he goes in dept in a lot of his videos if you are interested to know more on these vintage classics and what books are in this vintage series. fun fact - the founder of penguin is actually friends with Agatha Christie, he was on his way home from meeting her and on the train station he wanted to have something to read and thats when he came up with the idea to start Penguin and created these books for every day people have the chance to read without spending a lot of money.
Poet's Pub was also made into a light comedy film in 1949 which I caught on UA-cam. Not great, but I did finish watching it. "Gone to Earth" was made into a 1950 Powell and Pressburger film (Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, The Red Shoes, etc.) which was interesting, but slow and disturbing, kind of like my cousin Earl.
What a great video! I love the sound of Madam Claire. Being of a certain age myself, I'm always interested in that theme. I recently read Olive Ketteridge, which was fabulous. I remember reading one of Beverley Nichols' gardening books many years ago. It was lovely, as I recall, with useful information presented very poetically. And Eric Linkletter, I believe, wrote The Wind on the Moon, which I read over and over again as a child. I went through an avid Dorothy Sayers phase a long time ago. How long ago? I remember being shocked that the price on one of her books was over $2. Sigh... The Nine Tailors, I think, is my favourite.
A fascinating box set! Thank you for the “ unveiling “. In the 1970s and 80s my mother and grandmother read several Beverley Nichols books, so I was most interested to hear about Twenty Five. Not sure if my family members read that one but I still have a few of the others, Down The Garden Path, A Thatched Roof, and the much more controversial autobiography, Father Figure.
How interesting. Thatched Roof was apparently very popular. I must read something by him soon. I'll be honest, biographies are not my favourite books. But some are very good.
I just found out about Compton McKenzie recently in researching random authors I've come across. What a cool video Tristan. Hope when you read all 10 they're all winners.
What an amazing find. I've started my classics collection, and Its always such a thrill when I find them out in the wild. I have several black spine Penguin Classics, a few Penguin Deluxe Classics and Barnes and Noble. Also, 1 each of Vintage, Worthsworth Classics, McMillans Classic Library and several editions of Dracula and Frankestein. Thank you for all your videos as you have been very influential injourney collection journry. 😊
Very good video. Penguin books became big in the late 1930's and during World War II and was commonly read by the soldiers during the war including, in some cases, even carried by soldiers in battle.
I’ve never heard of any of these books and authors but they sound intriguing. I absolutely love your descriptions. Your enthusiasm is infectious. I will definitely be looking out for this set, hopefully I can find it here in Australia.
10:06 Great book! That was the first Dorothy Sayers (and Lord Peter Wimsey) book I ever read… and possibly my favorite one that I’ve read thus far. I don’t like her work as much as I do Agatha Christie’s, but after Christie (and tied with Chesterton), she is thus far my favorite author from the Detection Club. It’s so cool to see her featured here… I didn’t expect that for some reason. Good on Penguin for their appreciation of one of the great mystery authors. 11:59 I should have waited to comment for this book! Not the first Agatha Christie I read (I started reading her around 10 or 11 years old with Hercule Poirot’s Christmas), but it is the one I always recommend to anyone starting with Christie, as it is a great introduction to her greatest detective. I think I’ve read almost all of books (still have a couple of Miss Marples to read), and I have reread most of them countless times. It makes sense that if Sayers is in this set, the Queen of Crime. One month away from Christie’s Missing Readathon! 😃 12:08 This was Christie’s first book, and the first Hercule Poirot book. She pulled a bit from her own experience working in the dispensary during World War I for parts of the book. She also wrote it partially because her sister challenged her to.
What an absolute treasure! I think the best bio of Shelley is by Richard Holmes called "Shelley: The Pursuit" but I'm intrigued by Ariel and might track down a copy to check out! Great video as always!
Oh, what a neat collection. I hadn't heard of most of these--except the Christie and the Sayers, of course, but it was interesting to see what Penguin was goingfor when they first launched.
I am really glad that you showed and described this boxed set. I bought it when it came out and assumed I had read all the books, but realise now that I have read only two or three. With the lid on it's not possible to see the individual titles. I suspect that the original paperbacks were printed on flimsier paper, since they were meant to be read on the train and thrown away or left behind afterwards. These have sturdier paper and covers. Penguins were all reprints: everything came out in hardback for the carriage trade first, and paperbacks came out a year or two later for the hoi polloi. Penguins were a step further down the ladder as regards price but not quality. As you say, the covers were colour-coded: thrillers were originally green. The coding changed over the years as it became easier to print several colours on the one page.
Anyone of my age (70) will remember Beverley Nichols. I recall him being on television long ago. I read the Sayers book over 55 years ago, along with the other Peter Wimsey books. Compton Mackenzie founded Gramophone magazine in 1923 and it's still going strong today.
They all sound amazing and I am so pleased you have possession of the set. From your descriptions ,I fancy Madam Claire by Susan Ertz and The Belona Club by Dorothy L Sayers. But would not say 'no' to any of them and now have some more titles on my Must Read list.
I discovered Beverly Nichols several decades ago whilst working in a book shop in Portsmouth. I've enjoyed his books on cats as well as his garden, country living, and design critique books.
This is a big day - I have heard of a writer that Tristan hasn’t… I have Gone to Earth on my TBR pile after reading about Mary Webb in a book called ‘Nature Mystics: The Literary Gateway to Modern Paganism’ by Rebecca Beattie. Fabulous find that collection of books Tristan - looking forward to your Patreon discussion next month - I’m loving Lark Rise…
"The colour schemes included: orange and white for general fiction, green and white for crime fiction, cerise and white for travel and adventure, dark blue and white for biographies, yellow and white for miscellaneous, red and white for drama; and the rarer purple and white for essays and belles lettres and grey and white for world affairs."
This was fascinating. Except for Dorothy, Agatha and Ernest, I've never heard of of any of the others. I've noted those I do want to read, Thank you so much, I enjoy your presentations immensely
I've started Unpleasantness at Bellona and so far it's very enjoyable. My difficulty is that I am reading some other books and should not have started this one.😀
The Mysterious Affair at Styles is one of my favorite Agatha Christie novels. I really need to read Dorothy Sayers. It's been something I've been meaning to do.
What a fantastic find! I've read William and loved it. In fact, I've read almost all of E. H. Young's books which were re-printed by Virago in the 1980s, including William. I recognize Mary Webb as the author of Precious Bane, her most famous work, I think. Although I haven't read it, I saw the BBC TV adaptation of Precious Bane from 1989 with Janet McTeer.
I read "Ariel" over 50 years ago and found it interesting enough, but I was an addictive reader so enjoyed almost anything.But if you're interested in Shelley and his world, I STRONGLY recommend "A single summer with L. B." by Derek Marlowe. L. B. is Lord Byron and the novel is about the summer when Byron met Shelley and his party beside Lake Leman. It was the summer when Mary Shelley wrote "Frankenstein". A very enjoyable read, first published 1969 by Jonathan Cape.
Think I've read three: Farewell, Unpleasantness, and Styles. Only one I remember is the Mysterious Affair at Styles. In checking whether I read Unpleasantness, I found I was 46% of the way through The Five Red Herrings. Don't recall abandoning that one. Reading through the previous couple pages, I didn't recall any of it. So I will probably just that start that one over, maybe soon. The Original Ten is an interesting, if (historically) inauspicious, beginning.
Ah the curse of stopping part way through a book. I do this more than I would wish. I may get distracted and then after some time I begin thinking that I have read the whole thing but can't remember what it's about.😅
I remember this set coming out for Penguin's 50th anniversary during my first summer in Bookselling. Even when new the supply was quite limited - but I do still have the (very faded) 'trade only' sweatshirt. The selection is interesting, but I think it's best understood as an accurate reflection of mid-1930's taste, rather than an eccentric or deliberately 'quirky' bunch of titles. They were expecting to make money out of them, after all.......
So I collect the original Penguins. I have Ariel, a very bad copy of a Farewell to Arms that is covered in tape! Got Poet’s Pub and Madame Claire, for some reason a doubler on Twentyfive, have William and Gone to Earth. The green crime ones and Carnival are out of my price range however (around $40!) I love the way the different colors look on the shelf but I also definitely only buy books that I’ll read.
If this hasn’t been mentioned yet, Caroline of the Shedunnit podcast is reading the green Penguin mysteries in order. It’s lots of fun to join along and listen to the episodes.
For books about Shelley, I can’t speak to Ariel, but I understand The Pursuit by Richard Holmes published by NYRB Classics is quite good, though at over 800 pages, it’s a bit more of a commitment. They’ve never steered me wrong though.
From first 10 to 1000. The penguin logo was designed by Edward Preston Young. He served on England submarines in WWII - as a former employee Pengiun published his book in paperback form, it was there 1000th book. Its a ripping yarn.
It takes just a few seconds to like this video and helps so much. Please hit the like button. Thank you.
I don't like videos anymore since they removed the dislike option. If you can't boo you shouldn't be allowed to cheer either.
It's a modest request.
@@Actaeon-l6d I still have the dislike option
@@gommine Yea but you can only see the likes. So it's really a useless metric. So I think it's kinda a silly thing to participate in. If you can't see the dislikes then you shouldn't be able to see the likes either.
Apparently the most important thing lately is comments. (But I still like cause who knows)
The joy and giddiness on your face while describing these books is utterly contagious. Loved this video.
Thank you. I was very excited 😊
You are the absolute best Book Tuber. Your videos are informative and entertaining, and really help me decide what to read. Your descriptions of the books are brilliant. I love your enthusiasm.
Of all the BookTubers, you are the most personable and enthusiastic! Thank you! And so good to see that Penguins published so many women authors, right from the start.
Fascinating! I have to read those. In one of my favorite book, George Orwells "Homage to Catalonia", he talks of sitting in the trenches in Spain reading penguin paperbacks. They were new then.
Great video. Penguin Books' original colour coding was: Orange Fiction.Blue Biography.Green Crime.
Thank you Nigel.
Do you know what is the significance of the yellow corner/band on the book William?
The Agatha Christie isn't just the first book where Poirot shows up; it's the first book she wrote because her sister bet her she couldn't.
A wonderful glimpse of classics known, and unknown.
Your succinct summaries are most appreciated by me, and my hopelessly distracted mind.
I have indeed read The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club. It’s one of my favorite Wimsey mysteries.
Christie and Sayers books are certainly very different in every way. But I have read and loved them both all my life.
What a timely video! I just grabbed this exact same collection at my local secondhand bookstore! It cost only $7 CAD, and I am so happy to hear from a scholar like you that all of these works are (hidden) gems :)
You reminded me of a little boy at Christmas...your surprise and joy with this book set is so fun to watch! I just finished reading The Mysterious Affair at Styles last week! I want to read more of that series, but with just a touch of OCD, i start at the beginning and read them in order.
I think chronological reading is the most satisfying.
Once again you made me add more books to my ever-growing list. At this point I don't know if I will live long enough!
I added 'Madame Claire' and 'Carnival'.
In Love and War was based on a non-fiction book by someone in a relationship with Hemingway which purportedly served as the basis of the novel A Farewell to Arms. A Farewell to Arms has been adapted to film twice but not since the 50's, I believe. Probably also a TV adaptation or two
Gary Cooper and a very young Helen Hayes was. Iin the first adaptation of Farewell to Arms in the 1930s.
Love this! Love these books. Since I started following your channel, in the last year, I’ve accumulated more than 50 Penguin Black Classic books. I’ve read most of them and now if I start collecting the Orange I’m telling my husband it’s your fault. 😂.
These are awesome. 🙌🏼 📚🤩
Same here! I need a bigger book shelf.
It's a terrible addiction, isnt it? 😀❤
@@tristanandtheclassics6538 Tristan. I am about to buy my third bookshelf!! 😂 And it makes interior design decisions easier! I work on my computer all day. So I turned my old unused sitting room into my new & much more comfortable cozy reading room. With my collection of classics, science fiction and fantasy novels - plus my super cushy reading chair - this space is my destination to keep in touch with my imagination, my joy and my inner peace. Thank you!! 🙏🏻
@@Shannon-b5c just ordered my third. 😂🤦🏼♀️😂❤️
Which one of these ten is the Best ? Please 🙏🏻
❤
I have this exact anniversary boxed set. Bought many years ago at Angus and Robertson booksellers in Melbourne.
The word fell comes from the Old Norse words fell and fjall, which both mean "mountain"
Of the 10 books, I had only heard of two of them, Farewell to Arms and The Mysterious Affair at Styles, and like you, I can't remember "who done it". However, the book, "The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club", sounded rather interesting, so, since I'm taking a trip to Canada in the next week, I ordered it on-line so that I can read it on the plane. Thank you for your description.
I think that the eclectic choice of books was part of Allen Lane's genius. All the books were reprints belonging to then famous publishers. He wanted to appeal across the brows so to speak, beginning with the high brow Ariel. He knew that the original format, the series colour and design and of course the pricing would help move the books in Smiths and Woolworth's. I read that while working for his uncle (Bodley Head) that Lane went over to France in 1924 and met Andre Maurois. That might be the connection that led to Maurois headlining the series. It is fascinating to note that Lane was a shrewd businessman, but also like the founders of several cheap classic series, interested in educating the masses. One of his greatest achievements was his publication of E V Rieu's The Odyssey.
Thank you so much for this. What a delicious comment. 😀
My parents have that exact set on their shelf at home! And by coincidence I just picked up the Bellona Club (in a different edition) in a charity shop the other day. Now I need to get on and read it😊
I can never remember the Christie plots no matter how many times I read them! This is a very interesting list. I will try some.
Yes. You absolutely can’t beat Dorothy L Sayers. Loved that book.
I've started reading it and I love it.
Hi Tristan. Thank you for a really interesting video. I remember Gone to Earth being made into a film with Jennifer Jones , also she wrote another lovely book called Precious Bane I think which was also a lovely story .
Love love love Dorothy L Sayers! Have read all the Lord Peter books! Time to read them again!
Your enthusiasm for fiction is magical. Thanks for your passion and insight. I love your channel.
The unpleasantness at the Belona Club was the first Sayers book I read, ages ago. It got me hooked.
What an interesting topic! No doubt that many would love to read the biography of Shelley on the commuter train!
I'm ordering Poet's Pub and Gone To Earth!!! LOVED this video!!! 🤗
I adore this video. I love the Penguin paperbacks so much. Thank you!
This is very exciting. Please do more if the opportunity arises.
Simply Masterful! I continue to enjoy your presentations expressly because of your incredible enthusiasm for reading, learning and books ….. great and not so great. You will be remembered in history as a major part of encouraging love of learning and improving literacy. Congratulations for a tremendous channel and masterful management of your talent ant subjects you present!
Another great review. Love your channel.
❤ I’m so happy your friend found these for you , they will be so well looked after and loved . Enjoyed this video , thanks Tristan
I'm so pleased that you enjoyed the video. It was a pretty special treat for me.😀❤️
@@tristanandtheclassics6538 I could tell and it was obvious to see it brings you such joy and that the books will get read too ❤️ enjoy!
What a fabulous collection. I’ve only read the Agatha Christie novel but also own A Farewell to an Arms and hope to read it this year. I also fancy trying The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club as I love a mystery.
We are peas in a pod Jenny. There's not much that I prefer than a good mystery/suspense. We'll have to compare notes on it after we've read it. I'm finishing a P D James first, though I have read the first three chapters of Bellona.😀❤️
Yes I have read the Sayers book. I love her books. My favorite so far is the Five Red Herrings-about painters in Scotland. Great setting.
Styles is one of my favorite Christies. I even wrote a stage adaptation of it, so it was fun to see it pop up on this list!
Wow, fair play. I wouldn't know how to begin writing a screen play.
Your child-like enthusiasm is refreshing. I will point out that Shelley married Mary Wollstonecraft.
Slight correction: He married Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, who was Mary Wollstonecraft's daughter.
I just did a google & found this - the Guinness Book of World Records lists Christie as the best-selling novelist of all time. Her novels have sold roughly 2 billion copies worldwide, and her estate claims that her works come third in the rankings of the world's most-widely published books (behind Shakespeare's works and the Bible). That is 2 billion, so far as people are still purchasing her work.
Oddly enough, the only one of these I've read besides Agatha Christie is Gone to Earth. If people have heard of Mary Webb these days, it's usually for Precious Bane (which is wonderful). But Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger did a lovely adaption of Gone to Earth in 1950 with Jennifer Jones (and loads of conflict with David O. Selznick, of course, who made an alternate edit of the film for American release). It's also notable for being one of the books Stella Gibbons parodied in Cold Comfort Farm.
so jealous!! i have been wanting to get these original penguin books and yeah in NZ it is pretty much not going to happen with the 2nd hand stores we have. love the vintage penguins, great score Tristan, especially the condition they are in. There is another Brit on youtube by the name Jules Burt and he has the biggest original first edition vintage penguin classic collection (almost like 3000 of them) which he goes in dept in a lot of his videos if you are interested to know more on these vintage classics and what books are in this vintage series. fun fact - the founder of penguin is actually friends with Agatha Christie, he was on his way home from meeting her and on the train station he wanted to have something to read and thats when he came up with the idea to start Penguin and created these books for every day people have the chance to read without spending a lot of money.
You can tell how much you love this book set. I am right there with you. Thanks for the new writers to be looking up.
Poet's Pub was also made into a light comedy film in 1949 which I caught on UA-cam. Not great, but I did finish watching it. "Gone to Earth" was made into a 1950 Powell and Pressburger film (Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, The Red Shoes, etc.) which was interesting, but slow and disturbing, kind of like my cousin Earl.
Such an awesome find. Thanks, Frank!
You bet! Frank's the best.
What a great video! I love the sound of Madam Claire. Being of a certain age myself, I'm always interested in that theme. I recently read Olive Ketteridge, which was fabulous. I remember reading one of Beverley Nichols' gardening books many years ago. It was lovely, as I recall, with useful information presented very poetically. And Eric Linkletter, I believe, wrote The Wind on the Moon, which I read over and over again as a child.
I went through an avid Dorothy Sayers phase a long time ago. How long ago? I remember being shocked that the price on one of her books was over $2. Sigh... The Nine Tailors, I think, is my favourite.
Ditto re The Nine Tailors. Reread it many times.
Great video. All of EH Young was published by Virago in three nineties. She is wonderful. My favourite is Miss Mole
I love this man so much!!!
I have learned so much and binge watch all your video's.
Same !!!
Outstanding Tristan!!!
From USA
thank you,Gayla.
A fascinating box set! Thank you for the “ unveiling “. In the 1970s and 80s my mother and grandmother read several Beverley Nichols books, so I was most interested to hear about Twenty Five. Not sure if my family members read that one but I still have a few of the others, Down The Garden Path, A Thatched Roof, and the much more controversial autobiography, Father Figure.
How interesting. Thatched Roof was apparently very popular. I must read something by him soon. I'll be honest, biographies are not my favourite books. But some are very good.
I just found out about Compton McKenzie recently in researching random authors I've come across. What a cool video Tristan. Hope when you read all 10 they're all winners.
You had me at Saturday Keith. Ordering it before you finish your review. 😂
What an amazing find. I've started my classics collection, and Its always such a thrill when I find them out in the wild. I have several black spine Penguin Classics, a few Penguin Deluxe Classics and Barnes and Noble. Also, 1 each of Vintage, Worthsworth Classics, McMillans Classic Library and several editions of Dracula and Frankestein. Thank you for all your videos as you have been very influential injourney collection journry. 😊
Very good video. Penguin books became big in the late 1930's and during World War II and was commonly read by the soldiers during the war including, in some cases, even carried by soldiers in battle.
This was great!
What a great little time capsule in publishing history.
I’ve never heard of any of these books and authors but they sound intriguing. I absolutely love your descriptions. Your enthusiasm is infectious. I will definitely be looking out for this set, hopefully I can find it here in Australia.
This is delightful! I am very surprised to see André Maurois as the first Penguin author.
This was very interesting. It gives me a bunch of 'new' writers to check out.
10:06 Great book! That was the first Dorothy Sayers (and Lord Peter Wimsey) book I ever read… and possibly my favorite one that I’ve read thus far. I don’t like her work as much as I do Agatha Christie’s, but after Christie (and tied with Chesterton), she is thus far my favorite author from the Detection Club. It’s so cool to see her featured here… I didn’t expect that for some reason. Good on Penguin for their appreciation of one of the great mystery authors.
11:59 I should have waited to comment for this book! Not the first Agatha Christie I read (I started reading her around 10 or 11 years old with Hercule Poirot’s Christmas), but it is the one I always recommend to anyone starting with Christie, as it is a great introduction to her greatest detective. I think I’ve read almost all of books (still have a couple of Miss Marples to read), and I have reread most of them countless times. It makes sense that if Sayers is in this set, the Queen of Crime. One month away from Christie’s Missing Readathon! 😃
12:08 This was Christie’s first book, and the first Hercule Poirot book. She pulled a bit from her own experience working in the dispensary during World War I for parts of the book. She also wrote it partially because her sister challenged her to.
I loved it too!
Wish Dorothy Sayers had written more but Bologna Club was very enjoyable
What a find! Congratulations on your acquisition, something the likes of which we rarely find at secondhand bookstores in the U.S.
What an absolute treasure! I think the best bio of Shelley is by Richard Holmes called "Shelley: The Pursuit" but I'm intrigued by Ariel and might track down a copy to check out! Great video as always!
Oh, what a neat collection. I hadn't heard of most of these--except the Christie and the Sayers, of course, but it was interesting to see what Penguin was goingfor when they first launched.
Yes it took me by surprise too. 😀
I am really glad that you showed and described this boxed set. I bought it when it came out and assumed I had read all the books, but realise now that I have read only two or three. With the lid on it's not possible to see the individual titles. I suspect that the original paperbacks were printed on flimsier paper, since they were meant to be read on the train and thrown away or left behind afterwards. These have sturdier paper and covers.
Penguins were all reprints: everything came out in hardback for the carriage trade first, and paperbacks came out a year or two later for the hoi polloi. Penguins were a step further down the ladder as regards price but not quality. As you say, the covers were colour-coded: thrillers were originally green. The coding changed over the years as it became easier to print several colours on the one page.
I was not aware of this set - thank you for posting!
This is FANTASTIC! Thanks!
I'm pleased that you enjoyed it ☺️
Anyone of my age (70) will remember Beverley Nichols. I recall him being on television long ago. I read the Sayers book over 55 years ago, along with the other Peter Wimsey books. Compton Mackenzie founded Gramophone magazine in 1923 and it's still going strong today.
They all sound amazing and I am so pleased you have possession of the set. From your descriptions ,I fancy Madam Claire by Susan Ertz and The Belona Club by Dorothy L Sayers. But would not say 'no' to any of them and now have some more titles on my Must Read list.
What an incredible find. Great video 😊
I discovered Beverly Nichols several decades ago whilst working in a book shop in Portsmouth. I've enjoyed his books on cats as well as his garden, country living, and design critique books.
This is a big day - I have heard of a writer that Tristan hasn’t… I have Gone to Earth on my TBR pile after reading about Mary Webb in a book called ‘Nature Mystics: The Literary Gateway to Modern Paganism’ by Rebecca Beattie. Fabulous find that collection of books Tristan - looking forward to your Patreon discussion next month - I’m loving Lark Rise…
"The colour schemes included: orange and white for general fiction, green and white for crime fiction, cerise and white for travel and adventure, dark blue and white for biographies, yellow and white for miscellaneous, red and white for drama; and the rarer purple and white for essays and belles lettres and grey and white for world affairs."
Thanks so much for this ❤️
@@tristanandtheclassics6538 welcome
I acquired this set about a year ago, sans box, but in great condition.
Thanks, very interesting! I’m interested in reading them all. I only know the detective stories from British TV!
This was fascinating. Except for Dorothy, Agatha and Ernest, I've never heard of of any of the others. I've noted those I do want to read, Thank you so much, I enjoy your presentations immensely
What a treasure! "Ariel", "The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club" and "Madame Claire" are definitely on my ever growing list.
I've started Unpleasantness at Bellona and so far it's very enjoyable. My difficulty is that I am reading some other books and should not have started this one.😀
The Mysterious Affair at Styles is one of my favorite Agatha Christie novels. I really need to read Dorothy Sayers. It's been something I've been meaning to do.
What a fantastic find! I've read William and loved it. In fact, I've read almost all of E. H. Young's books which were re-printed by Virago in the 1980s, including William. I recognize Mary Webb as the author of Precious Bane, her most famous work, I think. Although I haven't read it, I saw the BBC TV adaptation of Precious Bane from 1989 with Janet McTeer.
I have read many of Beverley Nichols books on gardening. Highly entertaining. Good sense of humor.
The Dorothy L. Sayers novel sounds thrilling. I don't know whether I should just buy that one or read the previous books in the series beforehand.
You’re so good, you have inspired me to start reading again. Gong to try a couple of those, interesting
I think Gone to Earth sounds like the most interesting, for the subject matter and because it sounds like it’s very well written and got good reviews.
Loved this video, I’ve just added to my reading list 😂👍👌
It's a scourge isn't it?! 🤣
I read "Ariel" over 50 years ago and found it interesting enough, but I was an addictive reader so enjoyed almost anything.But if you're interested in Shelley and his world, I STRONGLY recommend "A single summer with L. B." by Derek Marlowe. L. B. is Lord Byron and the novel is about the summer when Byron met Shelley and his party beside Lake Leman. It was the summer when Mary Shelley wrote "Frankenstein". A very enjoyable read, first published 1969 by Jonathan Cape.
Tristan is so full of joy.
Think I've read three: Farewell, Unpleasantness, and Styles. Only one I remember is the Mysterious Affair at Styles. In checking whether I read Unpleasantness, I found I was 46% of the way through The Five Red Herrings. Don't recall abandoning that one. Reading through the previous couple pages, I didn't recall any of it. So I will probably just that start that one over, maybe soon. The Original Ten is an interesting, if (historically) inauspicious, beginning.
Ah the curse of stopping part way through a book. I do this more than I would wish. I may get distracted and then after some time I begin thinking that I have read the whole thing but can't remember what it's about.😅
Didn’t get a single one but a few of those were amazing!
I have only heard of Farewell to Arms. I would opt to first read The Unpleasantness at ...!
Brilliant video!
I remember this set coming out for Penguin's 50th anniversary during my first summer in Bookselling. Even when new the supply was quite limited - but I do still have the (very faded) 'trade only' sweatshirt.
The selection is interesting, but I think it's best understood as an accurate reflection of mid-1930's taste, rather than an eccentric or deliberately 'quirky' bunch of titles. They were expecting to make money out of them, after all.......
So I collect the original Penguins. I have Ariel, a very bad copy of a Farewell to Arms that is covered in tape! Got Poet’s Pub and Madame Claire, for some reason a doubler on Twentyfive, have William and Gone to Earth. The green crime ones and Carnival are out of my price range however (around $40!) I love the way the different colors look on the shelf but I also definitely only buy books that I’ll read.
Ooooo I might have to do some eBay surfing. That would be a neat reading challenge!!!
It would be interesting to know who was on the Penguin editorial board when these books were chosen.
If this hasn’t been mentioned yet, Caroline of the Shedunnit podcast is reading the green Penguin mysteries in order. It’s lots of fun to join along and listen to the episodes.
That's a lot of information about penguins!
New subbie here! Totally loved this video!!! ❤
Hello there. Glad to make your acquaintance. 😀❤️
I bought that set in 1985. Still have it, naturally.
Thank you
You ate welcome 🙏
For books about Shelley, I can’t speak to Ariel, but I understand The Pursuit by Richard Holmes published by NYRB Classics is quite good, though at over 800 pages, it’s a bit more of a commitment. They’ve never steered me wrong though.
The Mysterious Affair At Styles was the first published novel for Dame Agatha.
Gone to Erath. I haven't forgotten it. It is genius! And the film isn't bad either!
From first 10 to 1000. The penguin logo was designed by Edward Preston Young. He served on England submarines in WWII - as a former employee Pengiun published his book in paperback form, it was there 1000th book. Its a ripping yarn.
The Unpleasantness of the Ballona Club was a mini series in 1972-3.
Oh really! How splendid.
Love your videos❤🎉😊
Thank you so much 💓