A Catalogue of Books Published by Chapman & Hall, Limited, August, 1888

(10 User reviews)   5371
English
You know how we sometimes joke about judging a book by its cover? This one asks you to judge an entire publishing house by its catalog. It's not a novel—it's a time capsule. Imagine flipping through the exact list of books someone in Victorian London could buy in August 1888. It’s a snapshot of what people were reading, from adventure tales to science texts, right before the modern world took off. The mystery isn't in a plot, but in the questions it makes you ask: What were people curious about? What stories shaped their world? It’s a quiet, fascinating puzzle for anyone who loves history, books, or just a good peek into the past.
Share

Read "A Catalogue of Books Published by Chapman & Hall, Limited, August, 1888" Online

This book is available in the public domain. Start reading the digital edition below.

START READING FULL BOOK
Instant Access    Mobile Friendly

Book Preview

A short preview of the book’s content is shown below to give you an idea of its style and themes.

WITH THE CAMEL CORPS UP THE NILE. By COUNT GLEICHEN, Grenadier Guards. With numerous Sketches by the Author. Second Edition. Large crown 8vo, 9s. _By W. FRASER RAE._ AUSTRIAN HEALTH RESORTS; and the Bitter Waters of Hungary. By W. FRASER RAE. Crown 8vo, 5s. _By EDWARD KENNARD._ NORWEGIAN SKETCHES: FISHING IN STRANGE WATERS. By EDWARD KENNARD. Illustrated with 30 beautiful Sketches printed by The Automatic Engraving Co. Second Edition. Oblong folio, 21s. A Set of Six Hand-coloured Plates, 21s.; in Oak Frames, 42s. _By ATHOL MAUDSLAY._ HIGHWAYS AND HORSES. By ATHOL MAUDSLAY. With numerous Illustrations. Demy 8vo, 21s. _ILLUSTRATED WITH PORTRAITS AND VIEWS._ A GIRL’S LIFE EIGHTY YEARS AGO. Selections from the Letters of ELIZA SOUTHGATE BOWNE. With an Introduction by CLARENCE COOK. Illustrated with Portraits and Views. Fcap. 4to, 12s. _By COLONEL G. B. MALLESON, C.S.I._ PRINCE EUGENE OF SAVOY. By COLONEL G. B. MALLESON, C.S.I. With Portrait and Maps. Crown 8vo, 6s. _By PROFESSOR WRIGHTSON._ THE PRINCIPLES OF AGRICULTURAL PRACTICE AS AN INSTRUCTIONAL SUBJECT. By Prof. J. WRIGHTSON, M.R.A.C., F.C.S., etc.; Examiner in Agriculture to the Science and Art Department; Professor of Agriculture in the Normal School of Science and Royal School of Mines; President of the College of Agriculture, Downton, near Salisbury, etc. With Geological Map. Crown 8vo, 5s. _By PROFESSOR J. LE CONTE._ EVOLUTION AND ITS RELATIONS TO RELIGIOUS THOUGHT. By J. LE CONTE, Professor of Geology and Natural History in the University of California. Crown 8vo, 6s. BOOKS PUBLISHED BY CHAPMAN & HALL, LIMITED. _ABLETT (T. R.)_— WRITTEN DESIGN. Oblong, sewed, 6d. _ABOUT (EDMOND)_— HANDBOOK OF SOCIAL ECONOMY; OR, THE WORKER’S A B C. From the French. With a Biographical and Critical Introduction by W. FRASER RAE. Second Edition, revised. Crown 8vo, 4s. AFRICAN FARM, STORY OF AN. By OLIVE SCHREINER (Ralph Iron). New Edition. Crown 8vo, cloth, 2s. _ANDERSON (ANDREW A.)_— TWENTY-FIVE YEARS IN A WAGGON IN THE GOLD REGIONS OF AFRICA. With Illustrations and Map. Second Edition. Demy 8vo, 12s. AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE (LECTURES ON), and OTHER PROCEEDINGS OF THE INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE, SOUTH KENSINGTON, 1883-4. Crown 8vo, sewed, 2s. _AVELING (EDWARD), D.Sc., Fellow of University College, London_— MECHANICS AND EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCE. As required for the Matriculation Examination of the University of London. MECHANICS. With numerous Woodcuts. Crown 8vo, 6s. Key to Problems in ditto, crown 8vo, 3s. 6d. MAGNETISM AND ELECTRICITY. Crown 8vo. LIGHT AND HEAT. Crown 8vo. _BADEN-POWELL (GEORGE)_— STATE AID AND STATE INTERFERENCE. Illustrated by Results in Commerce and Industry. Crown 8vo, 9s. _BARKER (G. F. RUSSELL) and DAUGLISH (M. G.), of Lincoln’s Inn, Barristers-at-Law_— HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL HANDBOOK. Second Edition. Crown 8vo, 2s. 6d. _BARTLEY (G. C. T.)_— A HANDY BOOK FOR GUARDIANS OF THE POOR. Crown 8vo, cloth, 3s. BAYARD: HISTORY OF THE GOOD CHEVALIER, SANS PEUR ET SANS REPROCHE. Compiled by the LOYAL SERVITEUR. With over 200 Illustrations. Royal 8vo, 21s. _BEATTY-KINGSTON (W.)_— A WANDERER’S NOTES. 2 vols. demy 8vo, 24s. MONARCHS I HAVE MET. 2 vols. demy 8vo, 24s. MUSIC AND MANNERS: Personal Reminiscences and Sketches of Character. 2 vols. demy 8vo, 30s. _BELL (JAMES, Ph.D., &c.), Principal of the Somerset House Laboratory_— THE CHEMISTRY OF FOODS. With Microscopic Illustrations. PART I. TEA, COFFEE, COCOA, SUGAR, ETC. Large crown 8vo, 2s. 6d. PART II. MILK, BUTTER, CHEESE, CEREALS, PREPARED STARCHES, ETC. Large crown 8vo, 3s. _BENSON (W.)_— UNIVERSAL PHONOGRAPHY. To classify sounds of Human Speech, and to denote them by one set of Symbols for easy Writing and Printing. 8vo, sewed, 1s. MANUAL OF THE SCIENCE OF COLOUR. Coloured Frontispiece and Illustrations. 12mo, cloth, 2s. 6d. PRINCIPLES OF THE SCIENCE OF COLOUR. Small 4to, cloth, 15s. _BINGHAM...

This is a limited preview. Download the book to read the full content.

Let's be clear from the start: this isn't a story in the traditional sense. There's no protagonist, no villain, and no plot twist. 'A Catalogue of Books Published by Chapman & Hall, Limited, August, 1888' is exactly what the title promises—a list. It's a reprinted sales catalog from a major London publisher, capturing a single month's offerings over a century ago.

The Story

The 'story' here is the snapshot itself. You turn the pages and see titles, authors, prices, and sometimes short descriptions. You might find a three-volume novel about empire, a textbook on emerging electrical science, a collection of poetry, or a travelogue about distant lands. There's no narrative connecting them, but together they paint a vivid picture of the literary marketplace at a specific moment in time.

Why You Should Read It

I loved it because it turns you into a literary detective. You start noticing patterns. What genres were big? How much did a book cost compared to a worker's daily wage? Seeing names like Dickens (whose work they published) listed alongside forgotten authors is humbling. It makes you wonder which of our 'big' books will be forgotten in 130 years. It’s a quiet, reflective experience that connects you directly to the reading habits of the past.

Final Verdict

This is a niche gem, but a brilliant one. It's perfect for history buffs, publishing nerds, or writers who want to understand the context of the Victorian era. If you're looking for a fast-paced plot, look elsewhere. But if you've ever stared at an old book and wondered about its journey, this catalog provides the starting point. It’s for the curious reader who finds magic in the mundane details of history.



📚 License Information

This digital edition is based on a public domain text. Share knowledge freely with the world.

Susan Lewis
5 months ago

Simply put, the atmosphere created is totally immersive. One of the best books I've read this year.

Michael Hernandez
1 year ago

As someone who reads a lot, the flow of the text seems very fluid. This story will stay with me.

Patricia Miller
6 months ago

I came across this while browsing and it creates a vivid world that you simply do not want to leave. I would gladly recommend this title.

Carol Jackson
1 year ago

High quality edition, very readable.

Kimberly Moore
1 year ago

Five stars!

4.5
4.5 out of 5 (10 User reviews )

Add a Review

Your Rating *
There are no comments for this eBook.
You must log in to post a comment.
Log in


Related eBooks