Sixty Years a Bookman, With Other Recollections and Reflections

In Short

This memoir traces the long career of Joseph Shaylor as he rises from a provincial apprentice in Gloucestershire to a respected leader within the London book trade. Blending personal recollection with industry analysis, Shaylor documents the inner workings of major publishing houses, the rise of modern distribution networks, and the social fraternities of literary London. The book endures because it offers an authentic, rare glimpse into the nineteenth-century book world, recording how literature was manufactured, marketed, and delivered into the hands of readers during a era of rapid transformation.

The Story

The narrative follows the arc of Joseph Shaylor’s professional life, beginning with his youth in the Stroud Valley. As a young man, he balances hard manual routine with self-improvement, waking at five in the morning for cricket on Rodborough Common, attending evening Latin classes to read Virgil, and participating in local choir performances. His early days are shaped by the cultural rhythm of country life, complete with visits from itinerant lecturers, public readings, and annual prophetic addresses by visiting preachers.

Seeking broader opportunities, Shaylor moves to London to enter the employment of the famous wholesale booksellers Simpkin, Marshall & Co. at Stationers’ Hall Court. He arrives in a city undergoing massive architectural and social changes. He witnesses the demolition of historic passages like Middle Row in Holborn, the clearing of Holywell Street’s famous old bookshops, and the opening of major landmarks like the Thames Embankment and the Law Courts. His early working days involve rigorous hours, yet he speaks warmly of the fairness of the firm's partners, the Miles family, who help guide the vast wholesale machinery supplying the nation with print.

As Shaylor advances in his career, the focus broadens from personal anecdote to a sweeping historical survey of the bookselling enterprise. He outlines the shift from historic publishing practices to modern trade structures, detailing the rise of iconic series like J.M. Dent’s Everyman’s Library and the adoption of the single-volume six-shilling novel, which effectively ends the reign of the costly three-volume set. He analyzes the systemic challenges of the business, particularly the problem of underselling, and advocates for organized trade standards like the Net Book Agreement to protect retail booksellers.

Alongside his business duties, Shaylor plunges into civic and literary life. He helps establish a private free library in Finsbury Park, later serves on the Stoke Newington Council Library Committee, and joins prominent social groups like the Whitefriars Club. Through these clubs and trade events—such as the famous publisher sale dinners where thousands of volumes were auctioned to key buyers—he interacts with prominent authors, editors, and fellow bookmen. Looking back over six decades, Shaylor ends his reflections with optimism for the future of printing, expressing a deep gratitude for a career spent in service of the written word.

How It Unfolds

Youth in Gloucestershire Shaylor grows up combining rigorous daily work with enthusiastic attempts at self-improvement. He plays early-morning cricket, studies Latin under a local bachelor, and sings in regional performances of classical oratorios.

Arrival in London Entering the wholesale firm of Simpkin, Marshall & Co., Shaylor adapts to the demanding rhythms of the London trade. He explores the rapidly modernizing capital, visiting everything from St. Paul's Cathedral to popular music halls and the old book stalls of Holywell Street.

Life at Stationers' Hall Court The narrative details the intense activity within the commercial heart of the English book trade. Shaylor describes the routines of wholesale distribution, the eccentricities of publish-day crowds for popular almanacs, and the steady leadership of the Miles family.

Evolution of the Trade Shaylor shifts to an analysis of industry changes, examining the decline of once-popular genres like family prayer collections and the rise of landmark initiatives like the Net Book Agreement. He documents how new publishers transformed the market with accessible single-volume formats.

Civic and Club Life Expanding his horizons beyond the warehouse, Shaylor becomes an active civic figure in Stoke Newington and a devoted member of the Whitefriars Club. He enjoys literary excursions, social dinners with prominent figures, and public work expanding local access to free libraries.

The People

• Joseph Shaylor: The author and narrator, an industrious bookman whose six-decade journey from provincial apprentice to respected trade figure reflects a deep devotion to the crafting, selling, and preservation of books.
• The Miles Family (John, Frederick, and William Miles): Partners in the wholesale house of Simpkin, Marshall & Co. They represent the high ethical standards and steady commercial leadership of Victorian bookselling, offering mentorship and fair treatment to their staff.
• Sir Frederick Macmillan: A prominent publisher whose key role in establishing the Net Book Agreement helps stabilize the bookselling trade by curbing destructive price-cutting.
• Sir Arthur Spurgeon and Mr. W.N. Shansfield: Leaders within the Whitefriars Club who foster community, organization, and warm fellowship among London’s journalists, authors, and literary figures.

In Its Own Voice

"Personally, I love the making and selling of books, and sincerely hope that these callings may still have a future far and away greater than the period through which I have passed."

Shaylor reflects in his preface on the lifelong passion that sustained his six decades in the trade.

"There were always a number of people to watch this publishing event, and the winner was greatly cheered."

Describing the lively annual rush at Stationers' Hall when porters raced out carrying the new editions of Old Moore's Almanac.

"By these means a dignity and influence as of old would be restored to the booksellers, petty grievances would be easily removed, and the question of a living discount would be more easily discussed..."

An argument from his trade writings advocating for strong organization between publishers and booksellers.

What It's Really About

Beneath its charming personal reminiscences, the book is a study of how commerce and culture intersect. Shaylor demonstrates that the survival of literature depends not just on creative authors, but on an intricate, often invisible network of paper-makers, printers, wholesale distributors, and neighborhood shopkeepers. He argues forcefully for fair trade practices and economic stability within the industry, insisting that booksellers perform an essential civic service that market undercutting threatens to destroy. At its heart, the text is a defense of the book trade as a noble, noble-minded calling that elevates public intellect and preserves collective history.

Why Read It Today

This memoir will appeal to bibliophiles, social historians, and anyone fascinated by the history of print and publishing. Reading it feels like sitting down with a kindly, knowledgeable veteran of a bygone era who knows every corner of Victorian London's publishing world. Shaylor's writing is clear, practical, and unpretentious, free of literary vanity or exaggeration.

While modern readers may find his detailed accounts of trade discounts, long-forgotten religious tracts, and corporate mergers somewhat dense or dry, these details provide an authentic historical record. What lingers after reading is Shaylor's quiet, steady enthusiasm for his craft. His gratitude for a life spent among books serves as a reminder of the human labor behind the physical volumes on our shelves.