''The Saturday Book'' was an annual miscellany, published from 1941 to 1975, reaching 34 volumes. It was edited initially by Leonard Russell and from 1952 by John Hadfield. A final compilation, ''The Best of the Saturday Book'', was published in 1981. The publisher throughout was Hutchinson's. ''The Saturday Book'' provided literary and artistic commentary about life in

Britain Britain most often refers to: * The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands * Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...

during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

and the ensuing decades. It covered a range of arts, including

ballet Ballet () is a type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread and highly technical form ...

and music. Many writers contributed poems as well as

essay An essay is, generally, a piece of writing that gives the author's own argument, but the definition is vague, overlapping with those of a letter, a paper, an article, a pamphlet, and a short story. Essays have been sub-classified as formal ...

s. The very first volume totaled 444 pages, but, with paper in short supply, the length of the second was slashed to 274 pages. From the third to the 24th volumes the number fluctuated between 288 and 304 pages, but the remaining ten ran to no more than 256 pages each, with the last one dropping to 240 pages. In 2002 Nekta Publications published ''What's Where in The Saturday Books: A Comprehensive Guide and Index'' by Peter Rowland, 154 pages long, which provides an index and guide to the whole series.

Contributors

The many writers who contributed to the series included

Fred Bason Fred Bason (1907-1973) was an English bookseller, writer and broadcaster most famously known for his collection of diaries that were published in four volumes in the early 1950s. Life Frederick Thomas Bason was born in Walworth, London on 29 Augu ...

, H. E. Bates,

John Betjeman Sir John Betjeman (; 28 August 190619 May 1984) was an English poet, writer, and broadcaster. He was Poet Laureate from 1972 until his death. He was a founding member of The Victorian Society and a passionate defender of Victorian architectu ...

Graham Greene Henry Graham Greene (2 October 1904 – 3 April 1991) was an English writer and journalist regarded by many as one of the leading English novelists of the 20th century. Combining literary acclaim with widespread popularity, Greene acquir ...

, Laurie Lee,

Philip Larkin Philip Arthur Larkin (9 August 1922 – 2 December 1985) was an English poet, novelist, and librarian. His first book of poetry, ''The North Ship'', was published in 1945, followed by two novels, ''Jill'' (1946) and ''A Girl in Winter'' (1947 ...

John Masefield John Edward Masefield (; 1 June 1878 – 12 May 1967) was an English poet and writer, and Poet Laureate from 1930 until 1967. Among his best known works are the children's novels '' The Midnight Folk'' and '' The Box of Delights'', and the p ...

, H. J. Massingham,

George Orwell Eric Arthur Blair (25 June 1903 – 21 January 1950), better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English novelist, essayist, journalist, and critic. His work is characterised by lucid prose, social criticism, opposition to totalita ...

, J. B. Priestley, L. T. C. Rolt,

Siegfried Sassoon Siegfried Loraine Sassoon (8 September 1886 – 1 September 1967) was an English war poet, writer, and soldier. Decorated for bravery on the Western Front, he became one of the leading poets of the First World War. His poetry both describ ...

Evelyn Waugh Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh (; 28 October 1903 – 10 April 1966) was an English writer of novels, biographies, and travel books; he was also a prolific journalist and book reviewer. His most famous works include the early satires '' Decl ...

, John Moore and P. G. Wodehouse. The series was profusely illustrated with photographs, woodcuts and line drawings, many specially commissioned. Artists included Edward Ardizzone, Rowland Emett, L. S. Lowry,

Laurence Scarfe Laurence Scarfe (1914-1993) was a British artist and designer, active in the twentieth century. His work Laurence Scarfe was born in Idle, Yorkshire in 1914. He attended Shipley School of Art and later moved to London. From 1933 to 1937 he studie ...

and Richard Chopping. Photographers included Bill Brandt,

Cecil Beaton Sir Cecil Walter Hardy Beaton, (14 January 1904 – 18 January 1980) was a British fashion, portrait and war photographer, diarist, painter, and interior designer, as well as an Academy Awards, Oscar–winning stage design, stage and costume de ...

, Douglas Glass and Edwin Smith. Wood engravers included Robert Gibbings, George Mackley and Agnes Miller Parker.

's essay "Benefit of Clergy", intended for the volume published in 1944, was suppressed on grounds of obscenity, but its title remains in the table of contents.George Orwell (1944
"Benefit Of Clergy: Some Notes On Salvador Dali"
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References

Fiction anthologies Hutchinson (publisher) books Publications established in 1941 Publications disestablished in 1975 Anthology series {{anthology-book-stub