Editing Victor Gollancz (section)

==As a publisher==
[[File:4 Dimensional Nightmare, cover.jpg|thumb|Cover of ''The 4-Dimensional Nightmare'' by [[J. G. Ballard]] in the characteristic bright yellow design of Victor Gollancz]]
Gollancz formed [[Victor Gollancz Ltd|his own publishing company]] in 1927, publishing works by writers such as [[Ford Madox Ford]] and [[George Orwell]], who wrote that "Gollancz is of course part of the Communism-racket," to [[Rayner Heppenstall]] in July 1937 (Orwell went to [[Secker and Warburg]] from ''[[Homage to Catalonia]]'' onwards). Orwell had initially proposed to Gollancz to publish ''[[Animal Farm]]'', but the latter had refused, according to Orwell, due to the fear of spoiling relations with a fundamental ally in the war against Nazism: "I must tell you that it is I think completely unacceptable politically from your point of view (it is anti-[[Stalin]])". Gollancz became very angry at this insinuation, but on 4 April 1944, he recognized his error of judgment: "You were right and I was wrong. I am so sorry. I have returned the manuscript".<ref>{{Cite news |title='It could disappear for ever': Anger over sale of George Orwell archive |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/article/2024/aug/17/it-could-disappear-for-ever-anger-over-sale-of-george-orwell-archive |date=17 August 2024 |last=Alberge |first=Dalya |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=26 September 2024}}</ref> The firm, Gollancz Ltd., published pacifist and socialist nonfiction as well as, by the mid-1930s, a solid selection of contemporary fiction, including authors such as [[Elizabeth Bowen]], [[Daphne du Maurier]], and [[Franz Kafka]].<ref name="Barrowman1991">{{cite book|author=Rachel Barrowman|title=A Popular Vision: The Arts and the Left in New Zealand 1930–1950|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S9oZMdYleRUC&pg=PA61|year=1991|publisher=Victoria University Press|isbn=978-0-86473-217-0|page=61}}</ref> While Gollancz published ''The Red Army Moves'' by [[Geoffrey Cox (journalist)|Geoffrey Cox]] on the [[Winter War]] in 1941, he omitted some criticisms of the USSR.{{citation needed|date=September 2012}}

Gollancz was one of the founders of the [[Left Book Club]], the first [[Book sales club|book club]] in the UK. He had a knack for [[marketing]], sometimes taking out full-page newspaper advertisements for the books he published, a novelty at the time. He also used eye-catching typography and book designs, and used yellow dust-covers on books. Starting in 1948, Gollancz made yearly scouting trips to the USA; by 1951 American books made up half of his publications.<ref>Edwards (1987), pp. 529–530.</ref>

Gollancz's politics started as those of the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal Party]] and [[Guild Socialism]]. By 1931 he had joined the Labour Party,<ref>Edwards (1987), p. 112 & pp. 207–209.</ref> and by the early 1930s he had started publishing left-wing political works, in addition to his more popular titles. Although he never joined the CPGB, Gollancz was closely allied to the [[Communist Party of Great Britain|Communist Party]] during the second half of the 1930s. He finally broke with the party after the signing of the [[Molotov–Ribbentrop pact]] in 1939, and pledged himself to [[Christian socialism]]. In the early 1940s, Gollancz was sympathetic to [[Richard Acland]]'s socialist [[Common Wealth Party]] and gave talks for the group before the general election of 1945. Although he never thought the party would win an election, he believed it represented a useful, socialist pressure group.<ref>Edwards, p. 396.</ref>

Religious faith was important part of Gollancz's life. His father was an Orthodox Jew with a very literal interpretation of his faith; Gollancz's dislike of this attitude coloured his approach to organised Judaism for much of his life, but he continued to practise many Jewish rituals at home.<ref>Edwards, p. 201.</ref> Gollancz often claimed to be a Christian, although he was never baptised and his understanding of the religion was highly idiosyncratic. Overall his personal syncretic faith drew on [[Pelagianism|Pelagian]] Christianity, Judaism, and wide-ranging reading across religious traditions.<ref>Edwards (1987), pp. 466 & 550.</ref> 

His faith manifested itself in a consciousness of bliss and his lifelong political and social campaigning. He compiled a number of books of religious writings, including ''A Year of Grace'', ''From Darkness to Light'', ''God of a Hundred Names'' and ''The New Year of Grace''. Gollancz was also a keen music lover, an enthusiasm he explained in his final book, ''Journey Towards Music''.{{cn|date=January 2023}}

Gollancz was [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]] in the [[1965 Birthday Honours|1965 Queen's Birthday Honours List]].