Life, 1922-08-03 · page 3 of 36
Life — August 3, 1922 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily an **advertisement**, not editorial content or satire. It promotes a 30-volume Shakespeare collection sold by the Haldeman-Julius Company of Girard, Kansas. The ad emphasizes affordability ($2.35 for 30 volumes—"less than 8¢ a volume"), marketed toward busy professionals with limited reading time. The portrait shows Shakespeare himself. The copy includes testimonial language from the publisher, explaining the low price through economical production methods (small format, direct printing). A tear-out coupon at the bottom invites mail orders. The only potentially satirical element is the framing device—presenting Shakespeare as accessible to ordinary Americans through mass-market publishing—but this reflects genuine 1920s-era optimism about democratizing literature rather than mockery.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
- LIFE - \/ olume ¢ aVolume akespeare Ovlaster Interpreter of Lifé « Published for Business People Who Find Little t the Time to Read WHY and HOW this Startlingly LOW PRICE Is Made Possible Thirty Volumes of Inspiring Drama, Comedy, Tragedy, Love and Human Under. standing. King Richard 11 Measure forMeasure King Henry IV Part I Macbeth Romeo and Juliet Juli ‘aesar Merchant of Venice Hamlet ‘ idsummer Night’ King Henry IV Midsummer Night's KP, Ye Much Ado About Nothing Othello, The Moor i of Venice nwoftheShrew Kin Henry VI As You Like It " The Tempest King Henry VI Twelfth Night Part I King Lear King Henry Vt Part III Sonnets ‘The Life of Shake- speare A FREE TRIP \OR more than two years I have worked on an overwhelming ambition to give Shakespeare's literary treasures to the world at a price within everyone's means. And because I have succeeded in this ambition, I believe I have the right tospeak frankly. Are You Often Embarrassed? Have you just met Shakespeare? Or do you really know him—know him intimately as the Master In- terpreter of Life? When your well-read friends find numerous occasions to quote beautiful, forceful passages from Shakespeare, do you know and ap- preciate these gems? Or, are you deluding yourself and friends with a passing nod of approval—a nod designed to divert the conversation to less danger- ous channels? Are You Comfortably Confident? Have you wondered why these same friends are more human, more interesting, more attractive, more at ease and comfortably confident, with a bet- ter understanding of life? We're all busy! And many of us feel both the lack of time and money for the world's greatest books at present prices. But, because | have learned from experience that good reading is the greatest agent of happiness and fulfillment of ambition, 1 have been consumed with the ambition to solve these time-and-price problems. How This Price Is Possible Now these problems are solved! Buying paper by carload lots, publishing one size of books and selling seeming] Impossible Geb O35 for 30 Volumes less than §¢a Volume ce iz: them, brand new, direct from specially built pres- ses to you, has at last made it possible to offer Shakespeare at a cost per volume of less than 8c— a little more than the cost of your Sunday paper. Many business men and women think they have little time for reading. This set of Shakespeare published in pocket size, 31-2x5 inches, solves the problem, You will read these book treasures to and from the office, at the lunch hour and during your spare moments in the evening. And within a short time, you will realize a wonderful benefit through Shakespeare's complete understanding of life. It influence you in your home and social life— giving you a better understanding of your family and your friends. And your purchase of this set of Shakespeare, at less than 8c a volume, will also entitle you to’purchase other sets of World's Fa- mous Books at a seemingly impossible price. 250,000 Sets! This almost unbelievable price of less than 8c a volume is based on my belief that the American public really appreciates the big and beautiful things of life, found in and resulting from reading. And when I've found 250,000 warm friends for Shakespeare I will have realized a greater re- ward than any slight recompense resulting from selling Shakespeare at less than 8¢ a volume. Each volume fs attractively printed on a good quality of Send No Money baper'n clear type of newspaper size and bound neatly in blue cover stock. If you are not satisfied, return them within § days and your money Will be refunded. Send ti less than 8e'a volume. is coupon, properly Gilled out, immediately, for this unusual offer of HALDEMAN.-JULIUS COMPANY, Dept. C-36, GIRARD, KANS. TO EUROPE Twelve readers of Shakespeare will be given a trip to England to Shakespeare's birthplace and other points of interest in England ‘and France,with all expenses paid. Each set of Shakespeare contains full information as to how, with out selling effort or solicitation, you will automatically become a t t once, by parcel post your set of thirty volumes of Shakespeare. I will pay the tage when the set arrives, this payment to be the first and last. If 1 satisfied after examining the books,! will return them within five day: postman $2.35 plu: Name. Girard, Kansas Address. City State, ‘Those living in Canada or other foreign countries please send, with order, postal money order for $2.35 plus 30 cents for parcel post, a total of $2.65. Those in the United States who wish to send cash with order, send check or postal money order for $2.65 and mark X in this square. [ } once! comicbooks.com am not ind my money will be refunded.