Books for sale (1949)

From the September 1949 issue of the Socialist Standard

Blogger's Note:

I don't always post the Books for Sale notices on the blog, but it's worthwhile to occasionally do so. If only to get some sense of what books were being sold through Party channels that weren't the usual classics from Marx and Engels. 

Walter Citrine's A.B.C. of Chairmanship book was still being used 30 and 40 years later in instructing trade unionists how to conduct their meetings. J. F. Horrabin's book is an interesting pick as he was from a Labour Left/Communist background. A previous book of his, published by the N.C.L.C., was reviewed in the April 1934 issue of the Socialist Standard. An Outline of Man's History by G. Walker was new to me. It turns out it was another N.C.L.C. publication, dating from 1939, and the author, G. Walker, is better known nowadays as Patrick Gordon Walker. By the 1960s, Walker was a leading member of the Labour Party — the shadow Foreign Secretary in the run up to the 1964 General Election — but he lost his parliamentary seat in Smethwick, West Midlands at the 1964 election because of a racist election campaign run by his Conservative opponent, Peter Griffiths, locally. The unsigned article, 'Race in Smethwick', from the June 1965 issue of the Socialist Standard gives more background on that notorious election. 

"The Plebs Atlas" (1934)

Book Review from the April 1934 issue of the Socialist Standard

The Plebs Atlas: Sixty Maps for Worker-Students. Drawn by J. F. Horrabin. N.C.L.C. Publishing Society, Ltd., 15, South Hill Park Gardens, London, N.W.3.)

The N.C.L.C. has published a revised edition of “ The Plebs. Atlas," containing sixty maps.

The series of maps are set out in a manner which simplifies an understanding of the events they describe. Each map has an explanatory footnote. The author has followed the method of leaving out all matter not considered essential to the lesson he wants to drive home. For example, in the map of Europe each country is shaded to illustrate its dominance by French, British, or American capitalism; other physical and geographical features which usually characterise maps being left out. There are maps showing the postwar changes in the boundaries of Europe; maps explaining the “Polish" Corridor," the "Balkans Problem," the "Far Eastern Question,” etc. A study of these will leave the student in no doubt of the reasons for the last war and will show him the conflicts of capitalist interest which may lead to another. One map shows the zones of influence of the chief capitalist powers; another is illustrated to show the chief industrial centres; others the ramifications of British capitalist interests throughout the world.

Altogether, the Atlas is a useful work: useful when studying history, and handy for reference in connection with current political events and press reports. The price of the Atlas is 1s., well within the reach of most students.

DON.