Tales from a Rolltop Desk

"Tales from a Rolltop Desk" by Christopher Morley is a bunch of stories that shine a light on early 1900s publishing in New York City, highlighting the lives of people in the book business. At the center of the first tale is Lester Valiant, recently out of Oxford, who steps into the exciting publishing world. The beginning of the book is a shout-out to all the important moments that shape writers and publishers. “The Prize Package,” the story that starts it all, introduces us to Lester as he lands in New York, brimming with ideas only to find out things aren't what he thought they'd be. In contrast to his big ideas about literature, Lester ends up in a regular press office, worries about his money situation, and starts to like his coworker, Pearl Denver. The book uses humor to show the struggle between dreams and real life, giving a funny and realistic portrait of the difficulties faced by young, hopeful book lovers.