“Yellowbacks” were cheap novels published in Britain in the second half of the 19th century. Developed to compete with the “penny dreadful” books, yellowbacks were marketed as entertaining reading. They had brightly coloured covers, that were attractive to a new class of readers, thanks to the spread of education and rail travel.
On 1 November 1848, WH Smith opened its first railway bookstall at Euston Station in London—a move that would quietly reshape both the book trade and the way people read while travelling.
As Britain’s rail network expanded in the early 19th century, trains made it much quicker and easier to transport newspapers, pamphlets, and books across the country. Yet it wasn’t until the late 1840s that William Henry Smith—representing the second generation of the WH Smith family business—spotted the potential of railway stations as ideal places to sell books.
It was a smart observation. Trains were fast becoming the preferred way to travel, offering a smoother and more comfortable ride than the jolting stagecoaches of the past—perfect conditions for reading. Smith saw an opportunity to offer passengers something more respectable than the sensationalist or poorly printed material often peddled by station hawkers. By opening the first WH Smith bookstall at Euston, the busy terminus of the London North-Western Railway, he aimed to meet the growing demand for affordable, entertaining books. These “Yellowbacks”—colourful, inexpensive novels designed for railway readers—were soon hugely popular.
By 1860, WH Smith bookstalls had become a familiar sight at stations across the country, making reading material more accessible to a wider public. The cultural impact was huge: what had once been disorganised and dubious sales points at stations were transformed into well-run outlets offering thoughtfully chosen books and newspapers. Smith even took care to review advertising content, helping ensure the company’s offerings reflected the respectable tone expected by Victorian society.
Today, WH Smith bookshops are still a familiar sight at railway stations across Britain.
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