Unique copy of first full-length audio book found in Canada
Set
of four LPs with full text of Joseph Conrad’s 1902 novella Typhoon was made by
RNIB in 1935
A
unique copy of the first full-length audio book ever made, a set of four LPs
recorded in 1935 with the full text of Joseph Conrad’s 1902 novella Typhoon,
has been rediscovered in Canada.
The
hunt continues for surviving copies of more of the earliest titles, including
The Gospel According to St John, and Agatha Christie’s The Murder of Roger
Ackroyd.
Selecting
the books caused controversy at the time, with many blind readers complaining
of censorship, and that books judged good for them were being selected instead
of the kind of books sighted people were reading. Many titles were rejected for
passages of sex, violence or profanity, or judged obscene – including classics
like Muriel Spark’s The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.
The stories you need to read, in one handy email
The
Royal National Institute of Blind People, which now has a library of 25,000
titles available as digital downloads rather than the heavy fragile shellac
records of the 1930s, began creating audio books in 1935. They were originally
intended for blind veterans of the first world war, and it is believed Typhoon
must have been taken to Canada by a former armed forces member.
The
recording resurfaced through research by Matthew Rubery, a professor of modern
literature at Queen Mary University of London, for his new book on the history
of talking books – which he regards as an influential modern art form. A
Canadian vintage record collector contacted him to say he had acquired the Typhoon
set, but had no idea of its significance until he read of Rubery’s work.
Rubery
said he had all but given up hope of tracking down the recording. “This is a
tremendous find for anyone interested in literature, sound recording or the
cultural heritage of blind and partially sighted people.”
Mark
McCree, the senior manager of the RNIB’s library and heritage services, said:
“Last year was our 80th anniversary, and to find one of the original collection
recordings after all these years is reason to celebrate.”
The
Untold Story of the Talking Book is published
this month by Harvard University Press.
Regards
Pralhad
Jadhav
Senior
Manager @ Library
Khaitan & Co
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