Charles Edward Mudie’s
lending library greatly influenced Victorian literature between 1842 and 1894,
particularly in the genre of fiction. Mudie did this through two main ways. The
first way he did this was by making sure that almost all novels were put into
three volumes. The second was by acting as a sort of censor who demanded that
fiction be suited to the middle class family, who would be the people that
would most purchase and read the works. This controlled the subject, scope, and
morality of the novel.
Mudie had first opened his lending library to nonfiction
works available. About two thirds of the books he owned were nonfiction works.
He quickly recognized the demand for novels, and this brought great literary
power and financial reward. His success depended upon several strategies.
First, the yearly guinea subscription allowed a customer to borrow as many
works as they wanted at one time. Note the high subscription fee was intended
largely for upper and middle class families. Second, the demand that publishers
produce only three-decker novels allowed him to divide up one novel among three
patrons. Third, by advertising his list of “the principle New and Choice Books
in circulation” (Griest 20), he created something very similar to a
best-selling list. Lastly, he ordered books in large quantities to ensure his
power among publishers and the public, thus increasing his business. His large
amount of stock made it so that his patrons did not have to wait long for
popular works.
Mudie had important effects upon the economies of
publishing, for his manner of buying books in the quantity he did. It
subsidized publishers and often made it easier for new authors to become
printed as long as they met Mudie’s demands and the demands of their audience.
Mudie was able to maintain his status for many years until the three volume
form was abandoned.
- Emily
Dodd
Griest,
Guinevere L. Mudie's Circulating Library and the Victorian Novel.
Bloomington and
London,
Indiana Univ. Press, 1970.
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