A Selection of Books Published by Methuen & Co. September 1913

Step into the world of early twentieth‑century publishing with this compact yet thorough selection of Methuen’s catalogue from September 1913. The volume opens by explaining how the list is organized by author, highlighting the distinction between regular and Colonial Editions intended for readers in the British Empire, and clarifying the pricing terms such as “net” books that cannot be discounted. Listeners will hear a rapid roll‑call of titles ranging from illustrated travelogues of Lakeland to scholarly editions of Aristotle’s Ethics, from lively folk‑song collections to biographies of figures like Robert Louis Stevenson and Napoleon Bonaparte.

The catalogue showcases the breadth of Methuen’s output at the time: histories of Germany, guides to English and Welsh cathedrals, practical manuals on English architecture, and imaginative novels set in exotic locales. It also includes practical notes for booksellers about stock availability and ordering procedures, giving a glimpse into the business side of the book trade. As the list unfolds, the listener gets a sense of the literary tastes and commercial concerns that shaped the publishing landscape just before the First World War.