yellowback
Definition
- Noun:
- Cheap novel: A "yellowback" refers to a cheap, popular novel, typically of a sensational or entertaining nature, originally published in the 19th century with a yellow paper cover.
- French novel with yellow cover: Specifically, it denotes a type of inexpensive French novel, often sold in railway stations or bookstalls, distinguished by its yellow binding.
Usage Examples
- (A cheap, entertaining novel bought for casual reading.)
- (Inexpensive novels with distinctive yellow covers.)
Advanced Usage
- "yellowback literature": A category of popular fiction from the 19th century, often associated with adventure, romance, or mystery, and sold at low prices.
- Yellowback literature was a precursor to modern mass-market paperbacks. (Cheap novels that paved the way for affordable books.)
Variants and Related Words
- Yellow-backed (adj): Having a yellow back or spine, as in a book or animal.
- The yellow-backed novel stood out on the shelf. (The book had a yellow cover on its back.)
Synonyms
- Dime novel: A cheap, sensational novel sold for a dime (10 cents) in the United States.
- Penny dreadful: A cheap, sensational British story or magazine sold for a penny.
Related Idioms
- No common idioms directly use "yellowback," but the term is associated with the phrase "yellowback novels" as a historical category of inexpensive fiction.