Pages browned with age Cover of A-LAY has some staining - see photo Salem Press, 1955, 2 Book set, 1171 pages Second Series Masterplots is a reference book series which summarizes the plots of significant works of literature and films. The first edition was published in 1949 by Frank N. Magill of Salem Press. The series offers 12,000 reference articles focusing on plot summaries, critical commentary, character profiles, literary settings and biographical profiles