The catalogue of additions made to the South African Public Library between May 1 1844 and May 1 1845 lists 441 volumes of books acquired by the library during this time. The books are listed by author, title and the number of volumes of each work. They are loosely divided by subject, and the breakdown of acquisitions by subject is as follows. Divinity and theology (24 volumes); politics, jurisprudence and economics (19 volumes); natural history and agriculture (41 volumes); works of amusement (151 volumes); poetry and drama (20 volumes); arts and sciences (14 volumes); voyages and travels (44 volumes); history (47 volumes); biography (45 volumes) and belles lettres and criticism (36 volumes). The library also increases its periodical holdings by acquiring all 154 volumes of the Gentleman’s Magazine since its inception in 1732 and 34 volumes of the United Services Journal from its inception in 1829.
As always acquisitions of new novels and tales dominate and we can see that the library’s London bookseller, James Richardson, is keeping the SAPL up to date with the latest literary fashions. This is reflected in the acquisition of 3 novels by the French novelist Eugéne Sue, whose Mysteries of Paris took London by storm in 1844, establishing the popular Victorian ‘city mystery’ genre. The library also acquired English translations (probably done by Mary Howitt) of Swedish realist writer Fredrika Bremer’s tales The Rose of Tistelon and The H Family , a writer who was enjoying popularity in England and North America during this time. New works by perennial favourites Charles Dickens, CPR James, James Fennimore Cooper, Benjamin D’Israeli Frances Trollope and Barbara Hofland are also listed.
LA
