J. F. Hallmans lånbibliotek i Uddevalla

Abstract

This thesis has been written with the intention to investigate a commercial lending-library in Uddevalla from 1838 to the last decades of the nineteenth century. This lending-library was founded by Johan Fredrik Hallman, a selfmade man and dynamic bookseller. The lending-library had according to the catalogue from 1853 and the supplements between 1855 and 1866 about 6.000 titles. 43 % of the books are Swedish originals and 56 % are translations and foreign originals. about 1 % is of incertain origin. among the foreign literature 31 % of the books are French, 30 % German, 26 % English and 8 % danish.

The majority of the books is fiction. There you will find Alexandre dumas senior, Walter Scott, Edward bulwer-lytton, J. F. cooper, Frederick marryat, august lafontaine, Eugène Sue, charles dickens and all the other bestsellers of that time. Of the Swedes you will find Emilie Flygare-Carlén, G. H. Mellin, c. F. Ridderstad, c. J. l. almqvist, august blanche and Fredrika Bremer on the top.

The lending-library served above all the middle- and upperclass people. because of economic, social and religious factors others were excluded. The most popular genres were historic novels, horror and family chronicles.