Page:The Story of the House of Cassell (book).djvu/219

 as he himself has described the operation. The first to accept any of them was the late Holderness Gale. About this time Sir Henry Lunn was starting a little magazine called Travel, and asked Gale if he knew any writers who could supply him with suitable articles. Gale recommended Foster Fraser, who in consequence was invited to become a contributor. Out of that relationship grew the scheme for a bicycle ride round the world, and thus "F. F." became a world-wanderer. The earliest record of these journeys to be published by Cassell's was "The Real Siberia," a book which took the public fancy from the start, and has passed through a number of editions. It has been followed by many others. With the exception of the first two, all Foster Fraser's books, indeed, have been published by the House." The relationship between the firm and myself," he once said, "has been cemented because I have the highest regard for the managing director, Sir Arthur Spurgeon, whom I look upon as the finest organizer in London."

Among other books on Russia which have been produced at La Belle Sauvage are Stephen Graham's "Russia and the World," which appeared first in 1915, and soon went into a popular edition. To this have been added, from the same pen, "Through Russian Central Asia" and "Russia in 1916." Another book which proved a great success was Mrs. Philip Snowden's "Through Bolshevik Russia," issued in 1920.

"The New Far East," by Arthur Diósy, published in 1898, was the result of a proposal from the House. It was thought that one who could lecture so entertainingly on Japan ought to be able to write a popular book on the subject. This confidence was not misplaced. The book made delightful reading, and its attractiveness was enhanced by the charming illustrations with which the Japanese artist, Kubuta Beisen, embellished its pages. But the book was as accurate as it was graphic. When Mr. Diósy visited the Far East, shortly after the volume appeared, he carefully went over each chapter with the