Books Across the Sea was a cultural and literary movement begun in 1940 as the result of the stopping of the transatlantic trade in printed books. At that time there was a ban on the import and export of non-essential goods into Britain to free-up shipping space for more essential goods. Books Across the Sea was founded in 1940 by

Beatrice Warde Beatrice Lamberton Warde (September 20, 1900 – September 16, 1969, née Beatrice Becker) was a twentieth-century writer and scholar of typography. As a marketing manager for the British Monotype Corporation, she was influential in the deve ...

to help offset Nazi propaganda among other expatriate Americans remaining in London after the fall of France. She arranged through her mother

May Lamberton Becker May Lamberton Becker (August 26, 1873 – April 27, 1958) was a journalist and literary critic. She was born in New York and at the age of 20 she married the pianist and composer Gustave A. Becker in 1893. Their only daughter Beatrice was born S ...

, literary editor of the

New York Herald Tribune The ''New York Herald Tribune'' was a newspaper published between 1924 and 1966. It was created in 1924 when Ogden Mills Reid of the ''New-York Tribune'' acquired the ''New York Herald''. It was regarded as a "writer's newspaper" and competed ...

for single copies of 70 new significant American titles to be imported in friends'

hand luggage The term hand luggage or cabin baggage (normally called carry-on in North America) refers to the type of luggage that passengers are allowed to carry along in the passenger compartment of a vehicle instead of a separate cargo compartment. Passen ...

. These were displayed in the offices of the Americans in Britain Outpost of the

Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies The Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies (CDAAA) was an American mass movement, political action group formed in May 1940. Also known as the White Committee, its leader until January 1941 was William Allen White. Other important members ...

. A similar present of British-published books was sent to America. The books were carefully selected to mirror life in the two countries and included educational titles. Schools assembled and sent scrap books showing the daily life of the children. It was quickly seen that books were essential good-will ambassadors, and a formal organisation was set up to run it, with branches in Britain (in London and Edinburgh) and America (in New York and Boston), first under the chairmanship of Professor Arthur Newall, and soon after by T. S. Eliot. Another key collaborator was Alicia Street, editor of ''The Outpost'', a newsletter published by Americans living in Britain "to promote full understanding among the English Speaking Peoples". By 1944 some 2,000 volumes had been received in London and 1,600 in New York. The branches also acted as enquiry centres about life in the opposite countries. After the war, in February 1946, the London collection of books was presented to the

South Audley Street South Audley Street is a major shopping street in Mayfair, London.'South Audley Street: Introduction', in Survey of London: Volume 40, the Grosvenor Estate in Mayfair, Part 2 (The Buildings), ed. F H W Sheppard (London, 1980), pp. 290–291. Bri ...

branch of the City of Westminster Libraries at a ceremony attended by Mrs

Eleanor Roosevelt Anna Eleanor Roosevelt () (October 11, 1884November 7, 1962) was an American political figure, diplomat, and activist. She was the first lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945, during her husband President Franklin D. Roosevelt's four ...

. Books Across the Sea was formally adopted by the

English-Speaking Union The English-Speaking Union (ESU) is an international educational membership organistation. Founded by the journalist Sir Evelyn Wrench in 1918, it aims to bring together and empower people of different languages and cultures, by building skill ...

in 1947 which still runs it, widening the scope to cover other countries.

References

Beatrice Warde, "Books Across the Sea; Ambassadors of good will", in ''The Times'' 2 January 1942, p 5: Issue 49123; col F. Letter about the scheme. Beatrice Warde, Anglo-American Links", in ''The Times'' 23 October, 1944; p 5; Issue 49979/2; col E. Letter about the school scrap books. "Books Across the Sea: Mrs Roosevelt on a valuable tie", in ''The Times'' 1 February 1946; p 7; Issue 50365; pol D. Report of the gift of the books to Westminster Libraries. Professor Arthur Newell, "Mrs Beatrice Warde", in ''The Times'' 25 September, 1969' p 12; Issue 57674; col G. Obituary notice, deals with her work with Books Across the Sea. English Speaking Union page about Books Across the Se

Note: The historical information here is not accurate.

References

{{Reflist United Kingdom home front during World War II Literary societies

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