The publishers explained their reasons for creating such a volume in the introduction to the book:
“The planning of the present book was therefore based on the assumption that the only way to provide a conspectus of the actual achievements of scholarship and thought would be in a sufficient number of presentations by leading authorities who are themselves original investigators in the essential fields of study. Each contributor outlines the past history of his subject before leading up to an exposition of the present state of knowledge and the relation of his field of work to the life and thought of to-day. Each Article has been specially written for this book, and there has been sufficient discussion between the editor and the contributors, and between the contributors themselves, to ensure that it shall fit into its place in the general plan. An essential condition of the success of the book*s intention was that simplification should not be carried to the stage which must inevitably result in distortion, yet that the thought in each contribution should be developed with a gradualness and lucidity which would make every successive point crystal clear to the reader who comes afresh to the subject. Each reader will be able to make his own synthesis, in so far as any kind of synthesis is possible, and will be helped towards an understanding of the fundamental problem which mankind has still to solve — the problem of life itself, with the questions it entails of free- will and survival. ”[2]
The book was a best-seller, selling almost 100,000 copies by 1937 when it went out of print. The publisher postponed a further reprint as there were plans to update the articles based on changing current events. These plans were derailed by the Second World War.[3] In 1956, a completely new edition, 'The New Outline of Modern Knowledge' [4] with different authors was published. It was edited by Alan Pryce-Jones, the editor of The Times Literary Supplement. The book contained 26 outlines, comprising 280,000 words in total on 621 pages and was sold for 18/- (90p).
Online and downloadable copy of the 1931 original edition from the Internet Archive
Online and downloadable copy of the 1956 updated edition from the Internet Archive
January 01, 1970
outline, modern, knowledge, published, victor, gollancz, 1931, omnibus, volume, intended, survey, full, range, human, knowledge, first, such, volume, include, entirely, material, editor, william, rose, solicited, leading, authorities, time, including, roger, s. An Outline of Modern Knowledge published by Victor Gollancz in 1931 was an omnibus volume intended to survey the full range of human knowledge It was the first such volume to include entirely new material Editor William Rose solicited leading authorities of the time including Roger Fry C G Seligman Maurice Dobb F J C Hearnshaw G D H Cole J C Flugel R R Marett and J W N Sullivan among others to contribute informative essays written for the common reader 1 The publishers explained their reasons for creating such a volume in the introduction to the book The planning of the present book was therefore based on the assumption that the only way to provide a conspectus of the actual achievements of scholarship and thought would be in a sufficient number of presentations by leading authorities who are themselves original investigators in the essential fields of study Each contributor outlines the past history of his subject before leading up to an exposition of the present state of knowledge and the relation of his field of work to the life and thought of to day Each Article has been specially written for this book and there has been sufficient discussion between the editor and the contributors and between the contributors themselves to ensure that it shall fit into its place in the general plan An essential condition of the success of the book s intention was that simplification should not be carried to the stage which must inevitably result in distortion yet that the thought in each contribution should be developed with a gradualness and lucidity which would make every successive point crystal clear to the reader who comes afresh to the subject Each reader will be able to make his own synthesis in so far as any kind of synthesis is possible and will be helped towards an understanding of the fundamental problem which mankind has still to solve the problem of life itself with the questions it entails of free will and survival 2 The twenty four articles carried the reader through the subjects of science philosophy religion sex mathematics astronomy biology anthropology cosmogony psychology psycho analysis archaeology economics politics finance industry internationalism history ethnology geography literary criticism music architecture painting and sculpture Updated Edition editThe book was a best seller selling almost 100 000 copies by 1937 when it went out of print The publisher postponed a further reprint as there were plans to update the articles based on changing current events These plans were derailed by the Second World War 3 In 1956 a completely new edition The New Outline of Modern Knowledge 4 with different authors was published It was edited by Alan Pryce Jones the editor of The Times Literary Supplement The book contained 26 outlines comprising 280 000 words in total on 621 pages and was sold for 18 90p References edit https archive org details in ernet dli 2015 525 page n3 An Outline of Modern Knowledge p ii iii https archive org details in ernet dli 2015 525 page n15 An Outline of Modern Knowledge Introduction p xiv inside dust jacket of the 1956 book https pictures abebooks com BKL100 19292393989 jpg picture of bookExternal links editOnline and downloadable copy of the 1931 original edition from the Internet Archive Online and downloadable copy of the 1956 updated edition from the Internet Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title An Outline of Modern Knowledge amp oldid 1149292886, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
