Popular Books in Muncie
What were some of the most popular books with Muncie library patrons in 1900?
Though there are a few classics sprinkled in, the large majority are popular fiction.
See the popular books list for a look at what these books were and how this list was compiled.
See a graph of the total books lent out in 1900 grouped by genre here.
Though there are a few classics sprinkled in, the large majority are popular fiction.
See the popular books list for a look at what these books were and how this list was compiled.
See a graph of the total books lent out in 1900 grouped by genre here.
Topping the list of books checked out in 1900 is The Gentleman from Indiana. This was the Hoosier author Booth Tarkington's (1869-1946) first novel, published in 1899. It was a success, winning Tarkington literary acclaim. This success was shared in Muncie, where the library bought two copies in 1899, another in 1900, and yet another in 1901. Female readers outnumbered males almost 2:1, and most readers were ages 15-40. Tarkington's next book Monsieur Beaucaire (1900) was accessioned mid-way through 1900 and also popular with library readers.
Richard Carvel, by Winston Churchill, was the best book from 1899 based on a survey of New York librarians of the fifty top books of the year. The Gentleman from Indiana was also on their list, but many of the other top books (many non-fiction) were not even held in Muncie, showing a favoring of fiction. Churchill (an American author) published many best-sellers during the Progressive era. Richard Carvel was a historic romance set during the American Revolution and especially popular with readers in their twenties and read by more females than males. The best book of 1900, To Have and To Hold, another historical romance, was also a hit in Muncie and read by a similar demographic.
Other popular books with Muncie patrons, written by authors like Charles Austin Fosdick and Edward Sylvester Ellis, were also geared towards boys (though also read by girls).
Under the Lilacs, by Louisa May Alcott, is next on the list. By the late-nineteenth century, Alcott was well-known for her many children’s novels. Indeed, Muncie Public Library had 30 copies of Alcott’s books (checked out a total of 409 times in 1900), including three of Under the Lilacs. However, it is unclear why Under the Lilacs was the most popular of them all. While this book was read by many younger readers and favored by females, this was not exclusively the case. As mentioned earlier, many books in the nineteenth-century had broad appeal.
Other popular books included:
- The first and second book from the popular “Elsie” series, by Martha Finley, whose religiosity was also found in her works. These books were mainly read by young females.
- The Planter’s Northern Bride, written in 1854, reacted to Uncle Tom’s Cabin by portraying friendly relations between slaveholders and slaves. It is intriguing that it still found popularity after emancipation. In contrast, Uncle Tom's Cabin was only checked out 16 times.
- The Sorrows of Satan, by Marie Corelli, perhaps the first modern best seller and based on a Faustian theme.
- Books by Edward Payson Roe, who mainly wrote books with moral or religious themes.
Sources:
“Best 50 Books of 1900.” New York Times. April 6, 1901.
“Best Books of 1899.” New York Times. April 21, 1900.
“Dan the Newsboy.” Internet Archive. http://archive.org/details/dannewsboy00alge (accessed June 16, 2013).
Finley, Cecil. “E.P. Roe: Successful and Sentimental Religious Novels.” The Great Lakes Review 4 (1977): 26-34.
Garrison, Dee. “Cultural Custodians of the Gilded Age: The Public Librarian and Horatio Alger.” The Journal of Library History 6 (1971): 327-336.
Geck, John A. “The Novels of Horatio Alger, Jr.” http://www.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/cinder/Horatiomain.htm (accessed June 16, 2013).
Hofstadter, Richard and Beatrice Hofstadter. “Winston Churchill: A Study in the Popular Novel.” American Quarterly 2, (1950): 12-28.
LaMonaca, Maria. “Review of Idol of Suburbia: Marie Corelli and Late-Victorian Literary Culture by Annette R. Federico; The Mysterious Miss Marie Corelli: Queen of Victorian Bestsellers by Teresa Ransom.” Victorian Studies 44 (2001): 153-155.
Merriman, C.D. “Martha Finley.” Online Literature Network. http://www.online-literature.com/martha-finley/ (accessed June 16, 2013).
Payne, Alma J. “Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888).” American Literary Realism, 1870-1910 6 (1973): 26-43.
Railton, Stephen. “Hentz Homepage.” Uncle Tom’s Cabin and American Culture. http://utc.iath.virginia.edu/proslav/hentzhp.html (accessed June 16, 2013).
"Richard Carvel." Internet Archive. http://archive.org/details/richardcarvel00churrich (accessed June 17, 2013).
Schmidt, Steven J. “(Newton) Booth Tarkington.” In The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, 1318-1319. Bloomington: University of Indiana Press, 1994.
“Under the Lilacs.” Internet Archive. http://archive.org/details/underlilacsalcott (accessed June 16, 2013).
“Best 50 Books of 1900.” New York Times. April 6, 1901.
“Best Books of 1899.” New York Times. April 21, 1900.
“Dan the Newsboy.” Internet Archive. http://archive.org/details/dannewsboy00alge (accessed June 16, 2013).
Finley, Cecil. “E.P. Roe: Successful and Sentimental Religious Novels.” The Great Lakes Review 4 (1977): 26-34.
Garrison, Dee. “Cultural Custodians of the Gilded Age: The Public Librarian and Horatio Alger.” The Journal of Library History 6 (1971): 327-336.
Geck, John A. “The Novels of Horatio Alger, Jr.” http://www.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/cinder/Horatiomain.htm (accessed June 16, 2013).
Hofstadter, Richard and Beatrice Hofstadter. “Winston Churchill: A Study in the Popular Novel.” American Quarterly 2, (1950): 12-28.
LaMonaca, Maria. “Review of Idol of Suburbia: Marie Corelli and Late-Victorian Literary Culture by Annette R. Federico; The Mysterious Miss Marie Corelli: Queen of Victorian Bestsellers by Teresa Ransom.” Victorian Studies 44 (2001): 153-155.
Merriman, C.D. “Martha Finley.” Online Literature Network. http://www.online-literature.com/martha-finley/ (accessed June 16, 2013).
Payne, Alma J. “Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888).” American Literary Realism, 1870-1910 6 (1973): 26-43.
Railton, Stephen. “Hentz Homepage.” Uncle Tom’s Cabin and American Culture. http://utc.iath.virginia.edu/proslav/hentzhp.html (accessed June 16, 2013).
"Richard Carvel." Internet Archive. http://archive.org/details/richardcarvel00churrich (accessed June 17, 2013).
Schmidt, Steven J. “(Newton) Booth Tarkington.” In The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, 1318-1319. Bloomington: University of Indiana Press, 1994.
“Under the Lilacs.” Internet Archive. http://archive.org/details/underlilacsalcott (accessed June 16, 2013).