LISTENING-IN TO BOOKS

Evening Star, Issue 22463, 7 October 1936, Page 14

LISTENING-IN TO BOOKS

THE " READER " OF THE FUTURE

The listener to books, the man or woman who prefers to accumulate his or her literature by ear rather than by eye, is, according to Mr Geoffrey Faber, about to arrive.

That he has not yet arrived is simply because, as Mr Faber told the international publishers’ congress in London, the gramophone “ talking book ” is still in an experimental stage. But how near is the development of the listenerreader, to use a contradiction in terms, was proved by the keen interest of publishers in Mr Faber’s paper and the consequence to publishers and authors of the “ exploitation ” of books by radio and talking machines. Mr Faber, in answer to a question, estimated that sound production of books would probably be perfected and made marketable in 20 or 30 years’ time.

“ I don’t imagine,” he said, “ that the printed book would be completely displaced. There will, no doubt, always be people who find silent reading the best method of enlarging their knowledge and stimulating their imagination. “ But the ancient habit of listening, rather than reading, is returning. The 8.8. C. has revived it to some extent. In the Children’s Hour, for instance, it has revived the art of vocal storytelling, heightening the listener’s interest by putting in the background with sound effects. And Mr A. J. AI an, in his broadcast narratives, has revived the confidential intimate technique of the story-teller. “ The great majority of readers want to be entertained, to be taken out of themselves. A trained reader with an

agreeable voice, makes it easier for them, adds to their pleasure.”

“ Won’t the development of listening, rather than reading, influence the writer’s style? Might not authors begin to write with one eye on a possible audience, just as some write at present with one eye on the films? ” “ Quite possibly, but that’s getting into rather deep waters. I imagine that an easy narrative style would be suitable for the ‘ talking book,’ but not the closely reasoned argument.” “ Not, for instance, the works of Mr Charles Morgan? ” “No; but some of Mr_ Somerset Maugham’s short stories might make excellent listening.” “ And what of the effect on the reading public Don’t you think that the ‘ talking book ’ is more likely to appeal most to those who at present do not read much, but who might be entertained by the spoken word? ” “ It’s difficult to say what the effect may be. One or two things may happen. Possibly, after listening, people may say: ‘ I’d like to read that.’ Possibly they may be stimulated to buy books. On the other hand, if the habit of listening is developed by mechanical reproduction of the spoken word in a form easy to buy and easy to use, such as the _ ‘ talking books,’ which would be sold in little bundles of paper tape if the ‘ optical ’ gramophone were perfected, then the sale of printed books might decline. “ As a publisher, I am, of course, most interested in the effect of ‘ talking books,’ or wireless broadcasting of the printed word on authors and publishers. “ In Great Britain publishers would like to establish the principle of point control and joint financial interest with the authors in broadcast rights. The Authors’ Society and some literary agents do not at present agree.

“ In Germany the Gesellschaft fur Senderechte, representing authors and

publishers, has accepted this principle,and has forced the broadcasting authorities to agi-ee to a reasonable seal* of pavment. . “ Whatever the present effect of broadcasting upou book sales, it is im* portant, in view of future possibilities, that there should be solidarity betweea authors and publishers.”