Reclam Booklets: The History of the Yellow Classics
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Every student knows them: the yellow Reclam booklets. For over 150 years, the small books from Reclam's Universal Library have stood for affordable world literature and are an indispensable part of the education system. But who invented them and what is the concept behind them? Here you can learn more about the fascinating history of Reclam booklets.
The Invention of Reclam Booklets
The idea for the Reclam booklets came from Anton Philipp Reclam, founder of the Reclam publishing house. He wanted to make literature affordable for everyone. This became possible in 1867 through a new law that made the works of many classic authors public domain.
On November 10, 1867, the first two booklets of Reclam's Universal Library appeared: Goethe's "Faust I" and "Faust II". At that time, they cost only 2 silver groschen per volume - a price that remained stable for 50 years. By the end of 1867, 33 more titles followed.
Two Reclam Series After the War
After World War II, the publishing house split into an East and a West branch based in Leipzig and Stuttgart, respectively. Until reunification in 1990, two series of Reclam booklets appeared, differing in design and color scheme. Since 1990, the yellow series from Stuttgart has been continued.
Reclam Booklets in the Classroom
In schools, Reclam booklets are particularly popular and widespread. They offer affordable editions of many reading materials and literary classics. Interpretations and reading guides complement the program. This makes them practical for German and foreign language classes.
The handy format, durability, and low price make the booklets ideal for school use. For generations, Reclam has shaped students in this way.
Conclusion - Affordable World Literature for All
Since 1867, Reclam's Universal Library has stood for "world literature for all". What began with 35 booklets now includes over 3,500 available German-language titles. In addition, there are foreign-language editions, reading guides, and interpretations.
Over 600 million copies sold by 2017 demonstrate the enormous success. As an integral part of the educational canon, Reclam has shaped generations of readers and carries the classics into the future. The Reclam booklets are true institutions of literary history.
