Books that appear in multiple Volumes, What does it mean?

[Dark Muse]

One thing I have noticed when looking up certain classical works is that when the name comes up it will say Volume 1 or Volume 2 etc.. one example which immediately pops into my head where this has been the case is with Remembrance of Things Past which has three different volumes. And once when I was looking up "The Man Without Qualities" I could only find Volume 2, I think there have also been a couple Thakcery novels I tried looking up which appeared in volumes.

But I was never quite clear exactly what it mean when a work appeared in more than one volume. Is it just the same as a squeal? Or are they different editions of the work? If you are going to read one these works for the first time do you have to start with Volume 1?

I have always been curious about this so I figured I would ask.

[JBI]

Original novels published for the masses came in two categories, often one than the other, serialized formats, in newspapers mostly, then printed form - at this time being on what is termed "rag paper" as pulp was not developed, the books were quite costly, thereby being the purchases of only the rich, and "lending libraries," the which would lend books out by the hour or day. The volumes are the way the books were divided, with common numbers being 3 and 5, Walter Scott was the true master of the volume novel form, and his success was caused by the demand that lineups would cause, each waiting to borrow the next volume, and devour the next book.

Of course, the books were built for this - often with big typesets and very wide margins, thereby giving those paying per book a quite bad deal, which in capitalist terms, is a good idea for the libraries, and publishers.


This trend eventually got beaten in England (I am not as knowledgeable about other places) when Zola's translator and publisher, Henry Vizetelly, started mass producing his translations of Zola, lowering the cost of publishing and of book production, thereby allowing the common reader the possibility of owning the book themselves (of which the translations are available on these forums) - combined with the use of pulp, this effectively destroyed the lending libraries, and, the Volume Novel format.

[Dark Muse]

Ahh ok, that makes sense, I did not even think of that. Because in actual book form I am use to the volumes being put together into a single body, so it threw me off seeing the volumes listed individually when looking the books up online. I never made the connection in my mind.

[billl]

I'm not sure if Proust fits in with JBI's excellent explanation. Maybe it does, but I always thought it was a bit more recent and got the volume treatment because it was so long. (Seven volumes, actually.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Search_of_Lost_Time

[Dark Muse]

I'm not sure if Proust fits in with JBI's excellent explanation. Maybe it does, but I always thought it was a bit more recent and got the volume treatment because it was so long. (Seven volumes, actually.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Search_of_Lost_Time

Thank you for the link with the info. And I know this is a bit off topic, but since we are on the subject of the novel. I always wondered about its duel names. Is it just becasue of a translation issue with the title?

[billl]

I'm maybe like you--I haven't read it at all, but am curious (and intend to eventually give it a shot), and maybe have some questions about the format and themes. I figure it's just competing translations, too.

[MystyrMystyry]

Yes it's title doesn't translate at all well - one of those expressions that are their own best way of saying themselves (Le Grande Meaulnes was another great title - and book)

But I'm fairly sure the reason for the volume format of Proust is the way it was originally published

[keilj]

right now they are doing a Twain autobiography in multiple volumes

it means the publisher is trying to milk as much money as possible out of a book

[OrphanPip]

In Search of Lost Time is the literal translation, but Remembrance of Things Past captures some of the more subtle meaning of the title that doesn't quite translate.

fyi: Proust's volumes can all stand alone as independent novels though. I've only read Swann's Way though.

[Dark Muse]

In Search of Lost Time is the literal translation, but Remembrance of Things Past captures some of the more subtle meaning of the title that doesn't quite translate.

fyi: Proust's volumes can all stand alone as independent novels though. I've only read Swann's Way though.

Thank you for the information, it is most helpful.