Books Quote by Tom Stoppard
““I have three copies of the first edition, which sold in double figures, speaking loosely; there was a moment when Blond's 'Lord Malquist and Mr Moon' sold 67 copies, or some such number, in Venezuela - a mystery I never solved. I have never been to Venezuela. I remember going into Foyles' bookshop in 1966 and being gratified to see a stack of Malquist-and-Moons on the New Fiction table. I counted them; there were twelve. A week or two later I went in again; there they were. I counted them again; there were thirteen! I saw at once what was happening. People were leaving my book at bookshops. ””
About This Quote
Source Interview: BBC Radio 4, "The Bookshop Talk", 1975
The quote illustrates how a book’s popularity can grow unexpectedly as readers discover and share it, leading to increasing sales without the author’s direct involvement.
In simple terms: Books can become popular through word‑of‑mouth, not just author effort.
Key Takeaway
Embrace and monitor organic growth.
Themes
literature
marketing
serendipity
Mood
curiosity
hopeful
reflective
Type
anecdotal
observational
When to use this quote
- bookstores
- author events
- reading clubs
- online reviews
Key Concepts
network effects
viral diffusion
Questions to Reflect On
- How can authors encourage organic sharing?
- What role do books play in a book’s?
A Different Perspective
Success may depend on external factors beyond the author’s control.
