30 JULY PAPERBACK BOOK DAY

Settling down to read your favourite book is an experience; a well-deserved indulgence. And although we have e-readers and Kindles that take up much less space than a bookshelf filled to the brim with physical books, nothing surpasses the smell and feel of a real book!

Hardcover books were traditionally held together with stitching and had a cardboard cover which was bound in cloth or leather.

Paperback books, also known as softcover or softback books, have been around since the mid-19th century.

Instead of stitches or staples, paperback books were bound together with glue and had a cover of thicker paper or card.

This made books not only more portable, but also more affordable and thus more readily available to the average person.

The first mass-market paperback books were published on 30 July 1935, bearing the Penguin logo. These early paperbacks were made available for purchase at newsagents, which were found at most urban British railway stations. These smaller-than-usual books were the perfect size for railway travellers.

Prior to this, one would have to visit a bookshop if you were looking for a book to read, and these books were not cheap. The only other option would be to borrow a book from a library. �

Paperback books were also known as pocket books because of their size and portability.

A new railroad network serves as an optimum and convenient way to easily distribute paperbacks to the public.

The First Paperback in America Released The first good-quality paperback is published in America, entitled “The Good Earth” by Pearl S. Buck.

Dime Novels’ Popularity During Civil War Dime novel sales skyrocket during the Civil War, making writers churn out 50 000 to 70 000-word novels every week. 1880s

E-book vs. Paperback With the introduction of ebooks, the book world begins debating the ease of e-books vs the conventionality of paperbacks.