“Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” by Robert Louis Stevenson. Quick Reader No. 142 (1945).
“A fiend from hell or a human being? The weirdest masterpiece of all fiction . . . a man who could turn himself into a beast at will.”
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.}
“Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” by Robert Louis Stevenson. Quick Reader No. 142 (1945).
“A fiend from hell or a human being? The weirdest masterpiece of all fiction . . . a man who could turn himself into a beast at will.”
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.}