Good Words


Good Words was a 19th-century monthly periodical in the United Kingdom. It was established in 1860 by Scottish publisher Alexander Strahan. Its first editor was Norman Macleod. After his death in 1872, it was edited by his brother, Donald Macleod, though there is some evidence that the publishing was taken over at this time by W. Isbister & Co.

Read without sin

Good Words was directed at evangelicals and nonconformists, particularly of the lower middle classes. The magazine included overtly religious material, but also fiction and non-fiction articles on general subjects, including science. The standard for content was that the devout should be able to read it on Sundays without sin. It became known as a "fireside read", which could be shared and enjoyed by adults and children, servants and masters.
Good Words was known for its illustrations, by such artists as John Everett Millais and Arthur Boyd Houghton and engraved by the Brothers Dalziel.

Circulation

In 1863, Norman Macleod wrote that the magazine had a circulation of 70,000. In the following year, it advertised itself as having a monthly circulation of 160,000, although that number is probably exaggerated.
In 1906, Good Words was amalgamated with the weekly Sunday Magazine, and published in that format until 1910.