Reader's Digest Condensed Books

Book series
The spines of many Reader's Digest Condensed Books

Reader's Digest Condensed Books was a series of hardcover anthology collections, published by the American general interest monthly family magazine Reader's Digest and distributed by direct mail. Most volumes contained five (although a considerable minority consisted of three, four, or six) current best-selling novels and nonfiction books which were abridged (or "condensed") specifically for Reader's Digest.[1][2] The series was published from 1950 until 1997, when it was renamed Reader's Digest Select Editions.[3] Frequently featured authors in the original series include Dick Francis (17 titles), Henry Denker (16 titles), Victoria Holt (15 titles) and Mary Higgins Clark (13 titles).

The series was popular; a 1987 New York Times article estimated annual sales of 10 million copies.[4] Despite this popularity, old copies are notoriously difficult to sell,[5][6] and scholarly attention has been sparse.[7][8]

For much of their publication schedule, the volumes were issued four times each year. Each year the company produced a Volume 1 (winter), Volume 2 (spring), Volume 3 (summer), and Volume 4 (autumn). In later years they added a Volumes 5, and then a Volume 6, going to a bi-monthly schedule by the early 1990s. The series was produced for 47 years (1950–1997), until being renamed Reader's Digest Select Editions. (Note: UK editions seem to have been somewhat different from US editions. Pre-1992 Canadian editions also contain different titles.)

Occasional books such as The Leopard (Summer 1960), The Days Were Too Short (Autumn 1960), and Papillon (Autumn 1970) were not published in English originally but were abridgments of translations. In some cases, advanced copies of the hardcover edition were printed in paperback form. In a few cases, new editions of older works (Up from Slavery, published originally in 1901 (Autumn 1960), A Roving Commission: My Early Life, published originally in 1930 (Autumn 1951) or Goodbye Mr. Chips, published originally in 1934 (Summer 1961)) were also among the condensed selections.

1950s

1950

Volume 1 – Spring

Volume 2 – Summer

Volume 3 – Autumn

1951

Volume 4 – Winter

Volume 5 – Spring

Volume 6 – Summer

Volume 7 – Autumn

1952

Volume 8 – Winter


Volume 9 – Spring

Volume 10 – Summer


Volume 11 – Autumn

1953

Volume 12 – Winter


Spring 1953 Selections

Volume 14 – Summer


Volume 15 – Autumn

1954

Volume 16 – Winter


Volume 17 – Spring

Volume 18 – Summer


Volume 19 – Autumn

1955

Volume 20 – Winter

Volume 22 – Summer

Volume 21 – Spring

Volume 23 – Autumn

1956

Volume 24 – Winter


Volume 25 – Spring

  • Captain of the Queens – Captain Harry Grattidge with Richard Collier
  • BelovedViña Delmar
  • In My Father's House – Grace Nies Fletcher
  • The Last HurrahEdwin O'Connor
  • Boon Island – Kenneth Roberts

Volume 26 – Summer


Volume 27 – Autumn

1957

Volume 28 – Winter


Volume 29 – Spring

Volume 30 – Summer


Volume 31 – Autumn

1958

Volume 32 – Winter


Volume 33 – Spring

Volume 34 – Summer

Volume 35 – Autumn

1959

Volume 36 – Winter


Volume 37 – Spring

  • The Secret Project of Sigurd O'Leary – Martin Quigley
  • Dear and Glorious PhysicianTaylor Caldwell
  • Collision Course – Alvin Moscow
  • Jungle Girl – John Moore
  • Epitaph for an Enemy – George Barr

Volume 38 – Summer

Volume 39 – Autumn

1960s

1960

Volume 40 – Winter


Volume 41 – Spring

Volume 42 – Summer

Volume 43 – Autumn

1961

Volume 44 – Winter


Volume 45 – Spring

Volume 46 – Summer


Volume 47 – Autumn

1962

Volume 48 – Winter


Volume 49 – Spring

Volume 50 – Summer


Volume 51 – Autumn

1963

Volume 52 – Winter


Volume 53 – Spring

Volume 54 – Summer


Volume 55 – Autumn

1964

Volume 56 – Winter


Volume 57 – Spring

Volume 58 – Summer


Volume 59 – Autumn

1965

Volume 60 – Winter


Volume 61 – Spring

Volume 62 – Summer


Volume 63 – Autumn

1966

Volume 64 – Winter


Volume 65 – Spring

Volume 66 – Summer


Volume 67 – Autumn

1967

Volume 68 – Winter


Volume 69 – Spring

Volume 70 – Summer


Volume 71 – Autumn

1968

Volume 72 – Winter


Volume 73 – Spring

Volume 74 – Summer


Volume 75 – Autumn

1969

Volume 76 – Winter

  • Miss One Thousand Spring Blossoms – John Ball
  • The Hurricane YearsCameron Hawley
  • The Wine and the MusicWilliam E. Barrett
  • On ReflectionHelen Hayes with Sandford Dody
  • The Black Ship – Paul & Sheila Mandel

Volume 77 – Spring

Volume 78 – Summer

  • A Place in the WoodsHelen Hoover
  • The Death Committee – Noah Gordon
  • The Man from Monticello: An Intimate Life of Thomas Jefferson – Thomas Fleming
  • The Three Daughters of Madame LiangPearl S. Buck
  • SnatchRennie Airth


Volume 79 – Autumn

1970s

1970

Volume 80 – Winter

Volume 81 – Spring

Volume 82 – Summer


Volume 83 – Autumn

1971

Volume 84 – Winter


Volume 85 – Spring

Volume 86 – Summer


Volume 87 – Autumn

1972

Volume 88 – Winter


Volume 89 – Spring

Volume 90 – Summer


Volume 91 – Autumn

1973

Volume 92 – #1

Volume 93 – #2


Volume 94 – #3

Volume 95 – #4


Volume 96 – #5

1974

Volume 97 – #1


Volume 98 – #2


Volume 99 – #3

Volume 100 – #4

Volume 101 – #5

1975

Volume 102 – #1

Volume 103 – #2


Volume 104 – #3

Volume 105 – #4


Volume 106 – #5

1976

Volume 107 – #1

Volume 108 – #2


Volume 109 – #3

  • Liberty Tavern – Thomas Fleming
  • The Pilot – Robert Davis
  • Touch Not the Cat – Mary Stewart
  • The Boys from BrazilIra Levin

Volume 110 – #4


Volume 111 – #5

1977

Volume 112 – #1


Volume 113 – #2


Volume 114 – #3

Volume 115 – #4

Volume 116 – #5

1978

Volume 117 – #1


Volume 118 – #2


Volume 119 – #3

Volume 120 – #4


Volume 121 – #5

1979

Volume 122 – #1

Volume 123 – #2


Volume 124 – #3

Volume 125 – #4


Volume 126 – #5

1980s

1980

Volume 127 – #1


Volume 128 – #2

Volume 129 – M

  • Amanda/Miranda – Richard Peck
  • Ice BrothersSloan Wilson
  • The Small Outsider – Joan Martin Hundley
  • The Silver FalconEvelyn Anthony

Volume 130 – #3


Volume 131 – #4


Volume 132 – #5

1981

Volume 133 – #1


Volume 134 – #2


Volume 135 – M

Volume 136 – #3


Volume 137 – #4

  • The Lord God Made Them AllJames Herriot
  • An Exceptional Marriage – Jack Shepherd
  • Texas Dawn – Phillip Finch
  • Crossing in BerlinFletcher Knebel


Volume 138 – #5

1982

Volume 139 – #1


Volume 140 – #2


Volume 141 – M

  • Fever – Robin Cook
  • The Walk West: A Walk Across America 2 – Peter Jenkins
  • Gilded Splendour – Rosalind Laker
  • Twice ShyDick Francis

Volume 142 – #3


Volume 143 – #4


Volume 144 – #5

1983

Volume 145 – #1


Volume 146 – #2


Volume 147 – M

Volume 148 – #3


Volume 149 – #4

  • The Secret Annie Oakley – Marcy Heidish
  • Talk Down – Brian Lecomber
  • Jewelled Path – Rosalind Laker
  • A Solitary Dance – Robert Lane


Volume 150 – #5

  • Godplayer – Robin Cook
  • The Suitcases – Anne Hall Whitt
  • The Time of the Hunter's MoonVictoria Holt
  • Stalking PointDuncan Kyle

1984

Volume 151 – #1


Volume 152 – #2

  • Arnie, The Darling Starling – Margarete Sigl Corbo & Diane Marie Barras
  • Night SkyClare Francis
  • The CanyonJack Schaefer
  • If We Could Hear the Grass Grow – Eleanor Craig


Volume 153 – M

Volume 154 – #3


Volume 155 – #4

Volume 156 – #5

  • Hanna and Walter – Hanna & Walter Kohner
  • StormswiftMadeleine Brent
  • The Sound of Wings – Spencer Dunmore
  • Surprise Party – William Katz

1985

Volume 157 – #1

  • Lovestrong – Dorothy Greenbaum, MD & Deidre Laiken
  • StillwatchMary Higgins Clark
  • Crescent CityBelva Plain
  • The Wild Children – Felice Holman


Volume 158 – #2


Volume 159 – M

  • The State of Stony Lonesome – Jessamyn West
  • At The Going Down of the Sun – Elizabeth Darrell
  • Callanish – William Horwood
  • Find a Safe Place – Alexander Lazzarino & E. Kent Hayes

Volume 160 – #3

  • In Love and WarJim & Sybil Stockdale
  • Ringo, the Robber Raccoon – Robert Franklin Leslie
  • This Giving Heart – Hugh Miller
  • Twilight ChildWarren Adler


Volume 161 – #4


Volume 162 – #5

1986

Volume 163 – #1

  • Mrs. Pollifax and the Hong Kong BuddhaDorothy Gilman
  • WildfireRichard Martin Stern
  • Arnie & a House Full of Company – Margarete Corbo & Diane Marie Barras
  • Take Away One – Thomas Froncek
  • The Two Farms – Mary Pearce


Volume 164 – #2


Volume 165 – M

Volume 166 – #3


Volume 167 – #4

Volume 168 – #5

1987

Volume 169 – #1

Volume 170 – #2

  • A Place To HideEvelyn Anthony
  • A Time For Heroes – Will Bryant
  • East and West – Gerald Green
  • Nightshade – Gloria Murphy


Volume 171 – M

Volume 172 – #3


Volume 173 – #4


Volume 174 – #5

1988

Volume 175 – #1

  • Mrs. Pollifax and the Golden TriangleDorothy Gilman
  • Not Without My DaughterBetty Mahmoody with William Hoffer
  • The Seizing of Yankee Green MallRidley Pearson
  • O Come Ye Back to Ireland – Niall Williams & Christine Breen


Volume 176 – #2


Volume 177 – M

Volume 178 – #3

  • Mortal Fear – Robin Cook
  • Just Another KidTorey Hayden
  • Rockets' Red Glare – Greg Dinallo
  • Brownstone Facade – Catherine M. Rae


Volume 179 – #4


Volume 180 – #5

1989

Volume 181 – #1


Volume 182 – #2

Volume 183 – M

Volume 184 – #3


Volume 185 – #4


Volume 186 – #5

1990s

1990

Volume 187 – #1

  • TiebreakerJack Bickham
  • What was Good About Today – Carol Kruckeberg
  • California GoldJohn Jakes
  • Monkeys on the InterstateJack Hanna w/ John Stravinsky


Volume 188 – #2

  • StraightDick Francis
  • No Roof But Heaven – Jeanne Williams
  • The Evening NewsArthur Hailey
  • The Courtship of Peggy McCoy – Ray Sipherd


Volume 189 – M

  • The Lady of the Labyrinth – Caroline Llewellyn
  • The Himmler EquationWilliam P. Kennedy
  • Flying Free – Dan True
  • A Time to Love – Beryl Kingston

Volume 190 – #3


Volume 191 – #4


Volume 192 – #5

1991

Volume 193 – #1


Volume 194 – #2


Volume 195 – #3

Volume 196 – #4

  • As the Crow FliesJeffrey Archer
  • Home Mountain – Jeanne Williams
  • MacKinnon's Machine – S. K. Wolf
  • Seal MorningRowena Farre


Volume 197 – #5


Volume 198 – #6

1992

Volume 199 – #1


Volume 200 – #2

Volume 201 – #3

Volume 202 – #4


Volume 203 – #5


Volume 204 – #6

1993

Volume 205 – #1


Volume 206 – #2


Volume 207 – #3

Volume 208 – #4


Volume 209 – #5


Volume 210 – #6

1994

Volume 211 – #1


Volume 212 – #2


Volume 213 – #3

Volume 214 – #4


Volume 215 – #5


Volume 216 – #6

1995

Volume 217 – #1


Volume 218 – #2


Volume 219 – #3

Volume 220 – #4

  • Acceptable Risk – Robin Cook
  • Local Rules – Jay Brandon
  • Salem StreetAnna Jacobs
  • Fast Forward – Judy Mercer


Volume 221 – #5

  • The RainmakerJohn Grisham
  • The CarouselBelva Plain
  • Wedding Night – Gary Devon
  • Cloud Shadows – Elizabeth Webster


Volume 222 – #6

1996

Volume 223 – #1

Volume 224 – #2


Volume 225 – #3

Volume 226 – #4


Volume 227 – #5


Volume 228 – #6

1997

Volume 229 – #1


Volume 230 – #2


Volume 231 – #3

Volume 232 – #4

These 1997 volumes were also published as Reader's Digest Select Editions, and all succeeding volumes were published as Reader's Digest Select Editions.

References

  1. ^ Springer.com: "The continuous publication of the Reader's Digest Condensed Books directmail subscription series since 1950 is a cultural phenomenon."
  2. ^ Publishers Weekly: "Reader's Digest Condensed Book Series to Get Wider Distribution", March 2015
  3. ^ Marchand, Philip. "Remembering the Reader's Digest Condensed Library". National Post. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  4. ^ The New York Times: "New Editor at Digest's Condensed Books", August 2, 1987
  5. ^ "Reader's Digest Condensed Books: 'as difficult to dispose of as bins of radioactive waste'"
  6. ^ Clayton Library: "We DON'T ACCEPT Reader's Digest Condensed Books–they do not sell".
  7. ^ Norrick-Rühl, Corinna (2021-10-11), "Contracts, Clauses, Controversy: John Hersey, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. and Reader's Digest Condensed Books", Symbolism, De Gruyter, pp. 35–54, doi:10.1515/9783110756456-003, ISBN 978-3-11-075645-6, S2CID 244578378, retrieved 2022-10-14
  8. ^ Volkersz, Evert (1995-06-01). "McBook: The Reader's Digest condensed books franchise". Publishing Research Quarterly. 11 (2): 52–61. doi:10.1007/BF02680426. ISSN 1936-4792. S2CID 143654866.
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