I really don’t like to make things easy for myself, do I? Having successfully finished my project of reading all 51 of the Penguin Moderns (the 50 in my box and the extra Mishima) you would think I would like to relax and contemplate the various Penguin projects I haven’t touched for ages, planning to get back to them. Alas, not so….. I blame author of the excellent “White Spines“, Nicholas Royle, who I follow on Twitter; during May I noticed that he was tweeting daily with an image of the date made up in book titles e.g. 25.05.2022 would have three different volumes of Penguin Horror Stories – nos. 25, 5 and 22! Intriguingly, on some of the dates, Royle featured a set of books I’d never come across – Penguin Modern Stories…
I exchanged a few tweets with Royle and he kindly posted a photo of all 12 volumes in the set. It seems that these are from the late1960s/early 1970s, and perhaps followed on from the Penguin Modern Poets which began in the 1960s; however, that series ran for 27 books, whereas the Modern Stories finished at 12. Was there less of an interest in short stories? Did readers prefer poetry? Who knows, as there doesn’t seem to be much documentation available. The blurb on the back of Book 1 says “This volume is the first of a new series designed to bring new short stories by both well-known and exciting new writers to the wide public they deserve. Penguin Modern Stories will be published four times a year”. Which is a laudable aim! However, looking at the range of authors featured, I was intrigued and set about searching online.
When I casually mentioned these books to my BFF J. she was as intrigued as I had been, particularly when we could see that Plath and Rhys were featured authors. I tracked down volumes 1 and 2; J. found a load more online; and then I sourced the final missing two. So now we have a set of 12 between us and I’m hoping reading them will be a manageable project!
The books appear to come with a little more information than the Poets did, and from my initial quick explorations it seems that this may be first time of publication for the stories. So that’s interesting, and reading these volumes will raise lots of questions for me about the changing fashions in writing and reading, why some authors’ work survives and others disappear by the wayside, and what kind of audience there would be nowadays for something like this. You could argue that things like Granta have overtaken a venture like the Penguin Modern Stories, but I think they must have been quite groundbreaking releases at the time.
So, onward and upward with a new reading project! I shall be putting up another dedicated page just for these books, and linking any reviews on it. I *will* also be trying to reboot the other stalled projects – so watch this space and see whether I manage to get going with the various Penguins! 😀
Jun 17, 2022 @ 07:15:08
This sounds a great project Kaggsy! I don’t think I’ve seen these collections before. The stories not being published before is so interesting, just those first two volumes look very tempting! I’ll look forward to your posts 🙂
Jun 17, 2022 @ 11:28:46
It’s very exciting as a project, and I was amazed not to have come across the books before. Such an interesting selection of authors!!
Jun 17, 2022 @ 08:30:44
I have never come across these books and I spent several years searching the world for the older Penguin books. How interesting! I have several sets of Penguins and I really should pull my thumb out and read through them in a project as you do. I was thinking of reading the 80 black classic Penguins in order but No 1 is setting here beside me, not opened yet. You are beginning to inspire me. I have that White Spines book and had started it before my eye began acting up. I should pull that one back off the shelf too as I love his idea of collecting them. Nothing sucks me in like a numbered series of books. I am beginning to think we are on the spectrum somewhere. Will look forward to hearing about this latest project of yours.
Jun 17, 2022 @ 09:45:37
Ha ha, a Penguin spectrum!
Jun 17, 2022 @ 11:35:41
Definitely, LOL! 🤣🤣
Jun 17, 2022 @ 11:34:15
I’m amazed you’ve not seen them Pam, with all your Penguin knowledge – yet they do seem to be quite obscure and I wouldn’t have come across them either without those Twitter pics. I do love the Penguin Projects I’ve set up, but need to be in the right mood for the right book.
As for White Spines, it’s a great read for any booklover – the collecting gene is obviously very present in me and give me a list and I’m away!!!!
Jun 17, 2022 @ 09:06:25
A laudable project, and one I wish you luck with while anticipating your thoughts on them! I keep meaning to get back to my Library of Brief Narratives meme, though that isn’t publisher-specific as yours is.
Jun 17, 2022 @ 11:34:42
Thanks Chris! I hope it doesn’t take my quite so long as the Penguin Moderns!!
Jun 17, 2022 @ 09:24:00
THis sounds great Kaggsy! Are you reading one a month? I must keep an eye out for this series in my regular charity book shop.
Jun 17, 2022 @ 11:35:20
I don’t know if I’ll be that disciplined, but I’m looking forward to getting started. I’ve never come across these before so the discovering was quite fascinating!
Jun 17, 2022 @ 11:54:33
Ah, a new reading adventure! Those can be so rewarding, I think. I’ll be very interested to follow along vicariously and see what you think of the books. I give you a lot of credit for embarking on this, and I hope you’ll enjoy it!
Jun 18, 2022 @ 13:36:03
I do love a good reading project, although I confess that a lot of them don’t get finished! But it’s fun to make a list and have a go!! 😀
Jun 17, 2022 @ 20:22:10
Good luck on your new project!
Jun 18, 2022 @ 13:35:18
Thank you! 😊
Jun 17, 2022 @ 23:41:36
Oh my hahaha what fun! Hope your reading of these beautiful Penguin books is great 👍.
Jun 18, 2022 @ 13:29:32
Thanks Silvia! They do look very interesting!!
Jun 18, 2022 @ 09:21:40
Like you, I’ve noticed Nicholas Royle’s daily ‘date’ tweets using various books. 🙂
Good luck with your latest reading project – I’m sure you’ll have fun with it!
Jun 18, 2022 @ 13:29:09
Thanks Jacqui! I’m looking forward to it, and there are only 12 I’m hoping to feel motivated to get through them more quickly!
Jun 18, 2022 @ 12:55:38
I love the sound of this! Having seen the covers I’m most intrigued by the way in which some authors are still well known but there are others I haven’t heard of. I’ll be interested to see if that is reflected in the quality.
Jun 18, 2022 @ 13:27:57
Me too Grant – it’s so interesting how some authors simply drift out of the limelight and I’m keen to see what I think of the more obscure ones here!!
Jun 18, 2022 @ 18:07:46
It will be interesting to discover whether those stories by people like Rhys dated from a time before they became famous.
Jun 18, 2022 @ 18:50:01
Indeed – there appears to be a little piece about the authors in the back of each book with info about the works selected. Should be interesting!
Jun 18, 2022 @ 18:58:32
Ooh I hadn’t heard of these either. A lovely manageable little project. I would have thought there were enough short stories for more than 12 volumes, but never mind. How good you can share this reading project with your friend too.
Jun 18, 2022 @ 19:58:24
Yes, it’s definitely more manageable than 50!!! I can’t imagine why they stopped publishing them, but maybe the response just wasn’t very good at the time. Will be very interesting to read them!
Jun 20, 2022 @ 12:50:05
Ooh, I don’t think I’ve seen these either (although now of course I won’t see anything BUT them, scattered around the place!). Have fun with your challenge.
Jun 20, 2022 @ 15:42:03
I know – isn’t odd to have missed coming across these for so long! Very much looking forward to this project!