Overdue library book returned after 50 years

A novel has been returned to a library 50 years past its due date by an embarrassed anonymous borrower.

The hard-backed copy of George Orwell's Road to Wigan Pier was supposed to be back at Hull's Central Library in 1974.

Katie Holdstock, from the city's libraries service, said the book would not be put back on the shelves as it was not in good enough condition to lend.

The mystery reader did not have to pay a fine as the council said it stopped issuing financial penalties during the Covid pandemic.

Mrs Holdstock, the library's team leader, said the novel had a particular smell: "That musty odour is just what you get in our library stacks – where we keep old books that aren't on our public shelves, in case anyone requests one!"

She added readers were allowed to take out seven books per ticket in 1974.

"And in those days, there were fines for late returns – and there's some strict wording stamped inside the book to remind users of that," she added.

"We waived library fines in the pandemic and never brought them back in again. We want their to be as few barriers as possible to customers using our libraries."

The service said it had changed its offering over the past 50 years, from streetdance and live music to 3D printing and gaming.

"It's not just about reading – and we certainly don't 'shush' anyone", said Mrs Holdstock.

The Road to Wigan Pier was published in 1937 and was Orwell's two-part sociological commentary, firstly looking at the working classes in the pre-war North of England and then recounting his own middle-class upbringing and the development of his political way of thinking.

Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.