Adventures of Bindle (1919) by Herbert Jenkins

Book review by Hilary Temple I had never come across Herbert Jenkins before I found this book on the shelves of my parents-in-law, who otherwise showed a marked predilection for Dornford Yates. The first edition proudly claims to have printed 40,000 copies, which sounds a very respectable number and followed the previous success of Bindle. … Continue reading →

The Compulsory Husband (1928), by John Glyder

By Janice Maskort and Val Hewson ‘John who?’ we said at Reading 1900-1950, where we think we know our popular 20th century writers. John Glyder came to notice via Mary who features in our sister project, Reading Sheffield. Mary, whose interview is here, kept a record of what she read between the ages of 15 … Continue reading →

Patricia Brent, Spinster by Herbert Jenkins (1918)

There have been a few blog reviews of this novel recently. See Stuck-in-a-Book Review by Thecla W: Patricia Brent is 24, secretary to an MP, Arthur Bonsor, and living in the Galvin House Residential Hotel. One day she overhears two of the older ladies who live there talking about her. They are pitying her because she … Continue reading →

Bindle by Herbert Jenkins (1916) and Adventures of Bindle (1919)

We’re now on to some novels that have not been reprinted in recent times (as far as I know!) and I think have been pretty much forgotten. Herbert Jenkins will be a familiar name to some as a publisher, most famously for publishing P. G. Wodehouse. I’ve mentioned him before as the publisher of Willie … Continue reading →

Jack and John by Willie Riley (1935)

I always have a good look at the prelims and end papers in books in the collection, and in this book published by Herbert Jenkins they are particularly interesting. In the front there is a page titled ‘What this story is about’; a more unusual feature than you might think. Most novels of this period … Continue reading →

Willie Riley (1866-1961) and Windyridge (1912)

Willie Riley is another of those authors who were extremely popular in their day and are almost entirely forgotten now that we specialise in at the Sheffield Hallam collection. Riley, a businessman from Bradford, published his first novel, Windyridge, in 1912 when he was in his forties. It was written, not for publication, but to cheer up some … Continue reading →