“The Best of Edgar Allan Poe.” Quick Reader No. 140 (1945).
“TERROR beyond all imagination . . . FEAR more paralyzing than you’ve ever known . . .”
BERENICE – The dreadful, reason-shattering tale of death and fiendish insanity.
THE BLACK CAT – Brutal murder is avenged from the grave.
THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM – The most nerve-shattering story of torture ever written.
THE MASK OF THE RED DEATH – The dread figure of Death stalks among the living.
THE PURLOINED LETTER – One of the greatest crime detection stories in fiction.
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Quick Readers are a fascinating slice of mid-century publishing history. Produced by Royce Publishers of Chicago (and occasionally Canada) between roughly 1943 and 1945, these pocket-sized paperbacks were part of a broader wartime trend: compact, affordable books designed for quick entertainment during paper shortages and long train rides—or even to be tucked into a soldier’s kit.
The series featured abridged versions of classic literature and popular stories, often condensed into 128 pages or fewer, with the promise that the “beauty of the story” remained intact. The format—roughly 3" x 4.5"—was ideal for portability, and the inclusion of color covers and black-and-white interior illustrations added a touch of charm and visual appeal
Royce published forty-eight Quick Reader titles. While they weren’t bestsellers in the traditional sense, they were part of a broader movement that democratized reading during the war years. Think of them as cousins to the Armed Services Editions—books made accessible, digestible, and portable. Their success was modest but meaningful, especially among readers looking for quick literary escapes. Trimmed-down formats, lightweight bindings, and condensed storytelling weren't just economical; they were deeply practical for men reading in barracks, on transports, or in foxholes with a flashlight tucked under a blanket.
Titles include works by Emile Zola, David Frome, H. Allen Smith, Ogden Nash, and Ring Lardner, among others. Some volumes were published in Canada, which hints at a broader North American distribution. Today, they’re quite collectible, especially in good condition with intact covers and illustrations. Their scarcity, wartime context, and charming design make them appealing to collectors of vintage paperbacks and WWII-era ephemera alike.
[Note: Although the artwork is uncredited, only two artists were used for these books, Axelrod and Cirkle.}
“The Best of Edgar Allan Poe.” Quick Reader No. 140 (1945).
“TERROR beyond all imagination . . . FEAR more paralyzing than you’ve ever known . . .”
BERENICE – The dreadful, reason-shattering tale of death and fiendish insanity.
THE BLACK CAT – Brutal murder is avenged from the grave.
THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM – The most nerve-shattering story of torture ever written.
THE MASK OF THE RED DEATH – The dread figure of Death stalks among the living.
THE PURLOINED LETTER – One of the greatest crime detection stories in fiction.
-------------------------------------------------
Quick Readers are a fascinating slice of mid-century publishing history. Produced by Royce Publishers of Chicago (and occasionally Canada) between roughly 1943 and 1945, these pocket-sized paperbacks were part of a broader wartime trend: compact, affordable books designed for quick entertainment during paper shortages and long train rides—or even to be tucked into a soldier’s kit.
The series featured abridged versions of classic literature and popular stories, often condensed into 128 pages or fewer, with the promise that the “beauty of the story” remained intact. The format—roughly 3" x 4.5"—was ideal for portability, and the inclusion of color covers and black-and-white interior illustrations added a touch of charm and visual appeal
Royce published forty-eight Quick Reader titles. While they weren’t bestsellers in the traditional sense, they were part of a broader movement that democratized reading during the war years. Think of them as cousins to the Armed Services Editions—books made accessible, digestible, and portable. Their success was modest but meaningful, especially among readers looking for quick literary escapes. Trimmed-down formats, lightweight bindings, and condensed storytelling weren't just economical; they were deeply practical for men reading in barracks, on transports, or in foxholes with a flashlight tucked under a blanket.
Titles include works by Emile Zola, David Frome, H. Allen Smith, Ogden Nash, and Ring Lardner, among others. Some volumes were published in Canada, which hints at a broader North American distribution. Today, they’re quite collectible, especially in good condition with intact covers and illustrations. Their scarcity, wartime context, and charming design make them appealing to collectors of vintage paperbacks and WWII-era ephemera alike.
[Note: Although the artwork is uncredited, only two artists were used for these books, Axelrod and Cirkle.}