The twisting galleries of the world's reconstruction

This thesis is a historical examination of the Left Book Club, which published Socialist literature from May of 1936 until October of 1948. During this time, the Club issued over one million copies of books and pamphlets at an affordable rate. The first modern book club in England, it provided Socialist educational books at a reasonable price by utilizing mass production technology. The standard orange or red covered-books sitting on shelves became the sign of a socialist household. The purpose of the club was: To help in the terribly urgent struggle for World Peace and a better social and economic order and against Fascism, by giving (to all who are determined to play their part in this struggle) such knowledge as will immensely increase their efficiency." That is its purpose; its method is to give "to all who are determined to play their part" books 1.urittenfrom even; point of view that can be regarded as helpful in this struggle, and to have these books, and the questions arising out of them, discussed in local Groups and conferences, and at rallies and the like. The purpose of this examination is to determine the extent of the education provided by the Left Book Club by studying the three areas that formed the Club: the books that were published, the newsletter, and the Left Book Discussion Groups that were formed. (cont. in pdf file)