Twentieth Century Impressions was a series of travel, political and social reference books published by Lloyds Greater Britain Publishing Company in London between 1901 and 1914. The full titles were typically styled as Twentieth Century Impressions of [country name] : Its history, people, commerce, industries and resources.
Arnold Wright (1858–1941) was editor in chief or author of most of the range of titles. In most cases the books were over 600 pages in length (some over 800). Wright was an enthusiast for colonialism,[1] in the decade before the First World War. In most of the earlier volumes, H. A. Cartwright and O. Breakspear were assistants. In the volumes closer to 1914, Wright was designated as the Historian for a volume. Reginald Lloyd was also designated as Director in Chief of the later publications.
The Argentina title was published in 1911 - Twentieth Century Impressions of Argentina. Its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources. Director-in-Chief: Reginald Lloyd ... Editors: W. Feldwick ... Oliver T. Breakspear, L. T. Delaney ... Historian: Arnold Wright. [With illustrations.] London : Lloyd's Greater Britain Publishing Co.[2]
The Brazil title was published in 1913 Twentieth century impressions of Brazil : its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources. Director-in-Chief: Reginald Lloyd ... Editors: W. Feldwick ... L. T. Delaney ... Historian: Arnold Wright. [With illustrations.] London : Lloyd's Greater Britain Publishing Co.[3]
The title about Egypt is dated 1901 - Twentieth Century Impressions of Egypt. Its history, people, commerce, industries and resources. Editor in chief: A. Wright ... Assistant editor: H. A. Cartwright. [With illustrations.] London : Lloyd's Greater Britain Publishing Co.[7]
The Uruguay Book was published in 1912 - Twentieth Century Impressions of Uruguay. Its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources. Director-in-Chief: Reginald Lloyd ... Editors: W. Feldwick ... L. T. Delaney ... Historian: Arnold Wright. London : Lloyd's Greater Britain Publishing Co., 1912.[15]
The last in the series appears to be the West Indies title - Twentieth Century Impressions of the West Indies. Their history, people, commerce, industries, and resources. Director-in-chief: Reginald Lloyd ... Editors: W. Feldwick ... L. T. Delaney ... Historian: José Plá Cárceles.London : Lloyds Greater Britain Publishing Co., 1914.[24]
In 1914, there is record of Wright being involved in the publishing of a book with only the second part of the title of earlier series; - Southern India: its history, people, commerce, and industrial resources compiled by Somerset Playne, assisted by J.W. Bond. Edited by Arnold Wright:London, 1914-1915.[25][26]
^Wright, Arnold; Cartwright, H. A (1989), Twentieth century impressions of British Malaya : its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources (Abridged ed.), G. Brash, ISBN978-9971-4-9146-8
^"Twentieth Century Impressions of British Malaya", Far Eastern Economic Review, v147 (n9), Review Publishing Company Ltd. (Hong Kong): 39 (1), 1 March 1990, ISSN0014-7591
^Wright, Arnold; Breakspear, Oliver T (1994), Twentieth century impressions of Siam : its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources, White Lotus, ISBN978-1-879155-30-5
^This book does not show up in major library collection catalogues and it appears not have been made into facsimile edition - Amazon's comment on its entry is Out of Print and Limited availability.
^"Review". The Northam Advertiser. Vol. IX, no. 743. Western Australia. 19 April 1902. p. 3. Retrieved 14 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Review". The Northam Advertiser. Vol. IX, no. 744. Western Australia. 23 April 1902. p. 2. Retrieved 14 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
^Playne, Somerset; Bond, J. W; Wright, Arnold (1915), Southern India : its history, people, commerce, and industrial resources, The Foreign and Colonial Compiling and Publishing Co, ISBN978-1-85177-030-4