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box 38/4
GENTEP.T
AAT8 &
un
AN INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
OF THE BOOK-OF-THE-MONTH CLUB
HAS BEEN FORMED, CONSISTING OF:
FOR ENGLAND
H. G. Wells and Arnold Bennert
FOR FRANCE
André Maurois
FOR GERMANY AND AUSTRIA
Thomas Mann and Arthur Schnitzier
FOR SCANDINAVIA
Sigrid Undser
of foreign countries. In the past, it has often
Tis wich genuine pride and pleasure
chappened-that books of great merit havc not
harne make chis announeementt
e 1
been introduced to American readers until years
our members. Not only becausc of
after chey were wrirten. In was to correct this
the distinguished standing of che
situation (so far as we arc concerned) that we
writers in this foreign group, bur
asked these distinguished writers to cooperate
because the formation of this Committee insures
wich us. Allar once consented to do so.
that hercafter our judges will be able to cover
the foreign field of letters as thoroughly as they
Although no published announcement has
now cover the American field.
been made of the fact, our subscribers will be
Each onc of the members of this Committee
interested to know that this International Ad¬
will kcep our editorial board informed as to
visory Committec has actually been acting for
what they consider the signilicant new books
some timc. Indeed, that remarkable war-book,
published abroad, euch in hir ou conntry. Sub¬
All Quiet on the Wertern Front —the June choice of
scribers should understand, however, that che
our judges —was first called to their attention by
members of this foreign group do not assume
onc of the members of this group, Thomas Mann,
any responsibilitv for che choicc of books for
even before it was published in English.
our subscribers. Their function is advisory only.
We do not wish to sccm to ckaggerate the
The sole responsibility for the choicc of the
importance of this improvement in our service.
book-of-che-month remains in rhe hands of
Nevertheless, there is no doubt that, on the
our five American judges—Dorothy Canfield,
whole, it will mean that our members Cand
Heywood Broun, Christopher Morley, William
American book-readers in general) may be more
Allen White and Henry Seidel Canby.
quickly and more thoroughly acquainted wich
The purpose in forming this foreign group
really significant new books being written
was, in a sense, chieflv onc of insurance. We
abroad. It means that there is less chancc of any
wanted to make surc that nothing exceptional
really distinguished work being overlooked
should be missed among the new forcign books.
for years, which has sometimes becn truc in
Dur American judges are, of course, thoroughly
the past. That is why we arc so pleased wich
in touch with the books published in this
this new development, and why we feel that
country. American publishers, authors, and
we can legitimately congratulate our members
literary agents, kcep them completely adviscd.
upon it.
Herctofore, however, this has not becn so truc