THE PASSING SHOW
Published in September 1937 - 112 pages
The Original First Edition Dust Wrapper – The price of 5/-
is showing on the cover, spine and on the front flap
This is an entertaining book of garden anecdotes.
It starts with a two-page forward by Theo Stephens, the editor of
"My Garden" magazine, explaining how the offices of "My
Garden"
were next door to the offices of "Popular Flying",
a magazine that was being edited by W.E. Johns.
He got to know Johns well and after hearing some of his
entertaining anecdotes,
persuaded him to write a regular monthly feature for "My
Garden" entitled "The Passing Show".
You can
read this forward here
It is a number of these articles, together
with new material that make up this book.
The book is divided into chapters which are titled as follows:-
BY WAY OF A BEGINNING – A five page forward written by W. E. Johns
SEPTEMBER
– A Combination of various items from Johns’ columns. A significant part of which is taken
from the February 1937 issue of MY GARDEN
OCTOBER –
This appears to be an entirely new article written especially for the book
NOVEMBER
– This appears to be an entirely new article written especially for the
book
DECEMBER
– This appears to be an entirely new article written especially for the
book
INTERVAL FOR SEASONAL SUGGESTIONS – This is the full article published (under the
original title “On birthdays and Presents”) in the January 1937
issue of MY GARDEN
JANUARY –
This is the rest of the article published in the February 1937 issue of MY
GARDEN (although it was headed “January”!) not used in September
above.
FEBRUARY
– Subtitled “An Early Foray” - This is the full article
published (under that title) in the May 1936 issue of MY GARDEN –
Johns’ first article for the magazine
ALPINE INTERLUDE –
This is the full article published (under the original title “These
Rock-Gardens”) in the June 1936 issue of MY GARDEN
MARCH – This
is the full article published in the March 1937 issue of MY GARDEN
APRIL –
This is the full article published in the April 1937 issue of MY GARDEN
MAY –
This is the full article published in the May 1937 issue of MY GARDEN
JUNE –
This is the full article published in the June 1937 issue of MY GARDEN
JULY –
This is the full article published in the July 1937 issue of MY GARDEN
AUGUST –
This is the full article published in the August 1937 issue of MY GARDEN
Each chapter contains various anecdotes and stories and comments
and short passages relating to the title.
It is the sort of book that can be dipped into at any time and
place, although I personally read it all on the same day - and I am no
gardener!
To summarise the numerous short tales and anecdotes is impossible
and would merely deprive the reader of the pleasure of reading them.
The joy for any W. E. Johns fan is found in the details about his
life and routines.
For more information
about “MY GARDEN” magazine – just click here
The Passing Show
Subtitle - A Garden Diary by an Amateur Gardener
Publication Details - originally published by My Garden