Publisher records impressions

- Soviet interest in Canada high

TORONTO

Soviet people are showing great interest in Canada and in Canadian publications and literature, according to a Cana-

dian publisher,

David Kashtan of Progress Books, who has

' just returned from a seven-week trip to Europe during which he visited the Soviet Union, Poland, France and Britain.

His purpose was to discuss with publishers the exchange and dis- tribution of classics and contem- porary writers’ works in Canada and Canadian books in Europe.

Kashtan told a press confer- ence his talks with Soviet pub- lishing houses have convinced him they are anxious to trans- late and print Canadian works. Recently the book Geographic Region in Canada was translated and published in thousands of copies, at a price comparable to the cost here.

Among Canadian authors who are widely known and read in the Soviet Union are Ernest Thompson Seton and Stephen Leacock. :

Seton’s books have been trans- lated into many languages of Soviet nationalities. The Biog- raphy of a Silver Fox and Wild Animal Ways are particular fav-

erites and have appeared in tens,

of thousands of copies. Among Leacock’s translated and better-

known books are Canada, Mon-. treal and Canada’s War at Sea.’

Books of modern writers also enjoy popularity and wide cir- culation in the Soviet Union. _

Dyson Carter’s novel Tomorrow is With Us was translated .into

Russian, and in addition thous-}

ands of copies in English were

published by the Foreign Langu- |

ages Publishing House. Carter's new novel, Fatherless Sons, is now being considered for publi- eation in several European coun- tries.

, Other Canadian writers pub- lished in the Soviet Union are ‘Thomas Haliburton, Blake and Roberts, Goldwin Smith and the French-Canadian A. Routhier, and the poets Bliss Carman and Pauline Johnson. .

“But this is just a beginning,” Kashtan added. “Soviet publish- ers are interested in publishing more Canadian history, more science and art books, more novels and poetry. They want to estab- lish active relations with Cana-

dian publishers that should result in extensive exchanges of Cana- dian and Soviet literature of all kinds.” : 3 Tht ok ae

Kashtan said he was amazed at the tremendous program So- viet publishing houses have plan- ned for 1956. Millions of books, including many English titles, will appear next year.

Kashtan commented on the great interest in literature evi- dent everywhere he went in the Soviet Union.

He saw queues in front of book- stalls almost at every second street corner and crowds of peo- ple in the book stores.

“New novels and other books are bought up as eagerly as we buy a daily paper,” he said “Reading rooms in libraries are

always packed by students and |

the public at large.”

When he visited Poland he saw much the:same thing in Warsaw, indicative of the cultural advance in the country. :

sea it boa

Discussing the plans of his pub- lishing house, Kashtan reported ‘the Progress Books will increase ‘its importation of books, maga- zines and newspapers from Eur- ‘ope. Consideration is being given to the idea of publishing the works of Soviet authors in Can- ada. F |. At the same time, he negotiat- ed with European publishers for _the translation and reprinting of ‘more Canadian books, some of ‘which his firm has published here in Canada. | Maple Leaf Trail, a new Can- adian children’s book to be pub- lished by Progress Books, is now | in the hands of the printers 'and will be available early in , December. A collection of stories, ‘legends, hobbies and games, it | will, in Kashtan’s opinion, be a ‘positive contribution to the grow- ‘ing list of literature for young , Canada.

im

: ! :

Subscriptions will be

RANG BG SR OLGA RGD Lb AL PGES Gh FL GAGA ALMA IG BPA

| | : | |

LIFE IN THE SOCIALIST WORLD Give Gift Subscriptions for the New Year

Soviet Union, Pictoria — 12 issues ------------------. $2.50 German Democratic Republic in Construction

Rascues a a ee 1:25 China ‘Pittorial — 12 issues 25... nS 180 China Reconstruct — 12 issues ~-2._--------------=- 2.00 People’s China & Oa Sees 2 See ee ee 2.00 Soviet Women — 12 issues _-..-------------------- 2.50 Soviet: Litecuture ss Wegstieg Se ea _ 2.50 New ‘Times -— SQ.isSuesr aes Se ee International Affairs Ma ee er 3.50 Czechoslovak Life — 12 issues ~2-..-.-~---.----<-+-- 1.00

mately 8 weeks to arrive. Gift Card mailed

PEOPLE'S CO-OPERATIVE BOOKSTORE

ASSOCIATION —

337 West Pender St. . VANCOUVER 3, B.C.

mailed direct, approxi-

WE MADE IT |

Our Sub Drive Total Is. AP

1,556

(NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS, RENEWALS AND PAPER SALES)

| Dear Liain:

A wonderful “stretch drive” on the part of many press clubs enabled

target in the 1955 circulation campaign.

1,556 new subs, renewals and paper sa Outstanding press clubs in Van

35) and Philip Halperin (48 on 20).

City, Point Grey, Grandview, Kitsilano, End, while many other clubs reached their target.

of Kamloops,

readers during the course of the drive. press supporters who signed up five or more new re list were Don Cox of Vancouver,: West End club, an with 15 new subs each. Others who made the Honor

* Olaf Carlson, Lake Cowichan (6), A Lake Cowichan (5), Charlie Caron, North Vancouver (5), E. Ericson, D ‘Hiek, Parksville (5), Alex Kucher, South Burnaby (5), C. Neish, Victoria -

Final figures comp: le credits on an objective of 1,500. couver included West End (65 subs Also high on the honors list were N

Mt. Pleasant, Hastings East, Dry

Maple Ridge (48 subs on 25), Cumberland (31 on 10) and Kamloops (26 on 15) were the top three provincial clubs. ee ces : Not the least of our achievements was the securing of 281 new A great deal of credit goes to 17 aders. CP ete d Frank Halvorson ha ay eee

were Jim Cock, West End (12), Dave West, West End (12), Nanaimo (11), Elmer Walske, Maple Ridge (8), D. A. Johnson, Royston (7), j : Friend, Powell River (6), H. Bergren, Pee

uncan (5), Mike goat

and, Cumberland (5) and Sid Zlotnik, Halperin (5).

Despite the gain of 281 new readers, our net circulation gain during the period of the

drive was only about 200, due to the fact that many renewals still have to

This is the job facing us between now and

stantial net gain for the yéar.

clubs soon, and members are asked to make every effort to sign up every

other year, as well as clean the slate for October

yet been serviced.

Congratulations to all press club members who worked so hard to make the circula- tion drive a success. Let’s remember that the fight for increased circulation goes on 12 months a year, and keep up the good work. 7s

-

PROVINCIAL VANCOUVER | Subs: 690 | { Subs: 865 “ , PRESS CLUBS QUOTA SUBS 4 ; ee 5 | Atego 45 aR.) PRESS CLUBS QUOTA. SUBS te Britanniv, 2. IS 2. Advante |. .---.--5 Vos ON alo) td eee : ‘ Campbell River ------ 35 36 ASE. Smith: 50 -ton 3 20 Bet pees | i Copper Mountain ---- 5 : sRroad way 22.32 t eo 25 a5. AAR ae g MoUTtenay ooaca eS 30 2 ; 5 : Pet 16 31 : oa Trades® 2222s. 15 16 . Huntin oS 15 17 , Dry Dock. ------------ 15: 19 RBI e pice ee ee ee 15 5 _ East End C atatatane ue 10 - 14 ” = Fort Langley -------- 15_ 2 Plecttical: 2-6 es 25 18. ys cnc L seers 2 2 Forest Products _----- 30 24 assy. Plains 23 3+-— a , Kapioopsec co 15 26 Georsix rs ARE ae ae” Cece ais ie a Se a eG es 15 4 Grandview -__-_----- 45 58 [ Lake Cowichan —_---- 35. 36. Hastings East ..------ 35 38 | Maple Ridge -_-------- 25 Al Kinesway. 2 st it Michel-Natal __------- 20 10 Ritatlana 3. re A BS “39 md Mission 234 3 ee 5 8 Little Mountain __---- 15 — 15 Nanaimo.f22 28 85 86 Moberley ..2-2-22 42: 8085S 23 mNeISOM Eee 20 14 Mt. Pleasant -_..-_---- 15o 23 hi New Westminster .--- 35 27 Niilo Makela ___-_---- 15 1 : Notelit Hil ns te 10. 8 - Nonritiy ie oe oe Bh 21 . Parksville. os. 32) - 10 12 POlaih a et 10 = 2OR2 f : *<Ports. Kellas. 2. 10 11 .) Pens Pale 2 ctl nae 5: nace te Powell River ___.---- 35 35 Philip Halperin -.--- 20 48 Prince George ___----- 10 ar Point Grey _..-------- 40 LOnee Prince Rupert _-._---- 15; 6 “Stratheonay...5 220 20° eek he Salmon Arm -___----- 10 nip Students 422 2a52 28 eh ae Ge Soimuila® “2 15 18 Victory Square _.._--_ 50 | 32a Stoveston. . 0. = ee 5 ‘3. po AWaterfront: 222 8! Se a5 met North Surrey _------- 15. 10 West, End jee3c05 eee 35 65 South Surrey __------ 15 us “Capitol Hill “ese 35° VW | Wrage gee 35 17 South Burnaby ------ SI) 45 Warnon:..- lec 10 5 4 “Vancouver Heights ___ 20 21 Wathorias see 55 63 North van. City —_--- BO 8 58. Province Miscellaneous 20 49 North Van. District __ 50 OR ce x Correspondence Rigs hee 5 City Miscellaneous --~- 30 : Bie * — — / : — — PROVINCE TOTAL 700 690 . VANCOUVER TOTAL 800 8B St ee,

iled Tuesday this week showed

orth Vancouver

Christmas, in order that we may show a sub- - Lists of December renewals will be mailed out to press

and November renewals which have not

Rita Whyte \

Ses Bi ieee

U ¢ ! 2 us to top our jf

on a quota of jf

Dock and East

Heading the

Roll hee Ernie Knott, Abs

(5), W: Stock-

be picked up.

reader for an- —

PACIFIC TRIBUNE — NOVEMBER 25,

~

1955 — PAGE 10°