Are millennials really driving ‘cancel culture’ - or is it their overcautious critics?

Older generations argue that young people’s insistence on equality in all things – including books – threatens to stifle free speech. But is that always true?I wouldn’t normally air my dirty literary linen in public, but here goes. When I finished writing my novel Putney, about a 13-year-old girl who has a “love affair” in the 1970s with an older man and realises decades later that it was actually abuse, my previous editor at Jonathan Cape chose not to publish it. The reasons emerged this year when he was interviewed in the Spectator. “If Lolita was offered to me today,” Dan Franklin said, “I’d never be able to get it past the acquisition team – a committee of 30-year-olds, who’d say: ‘If you publish this book we will all resign.’” He pointed to #MeToo and social media as fundamental factors: “You can organise outrage at the drop of a hat.”Fortunately, Bloomsbury’s acquisition team – overwhelmingly female and mixed aged – were brave enough to take on Putney, which was described in the Observer as “a Lolita for the era of #MeToo”. Whether there was any truth in his words or not, Franklin’s position reveals how much fear now exists in publishing. Related: Putney by Sofka Zinovieff review – a Lolita for the age of #MeToo ‘It’s only about not being an arsehole,’ my daughter said. ‘That’s not so difficult’ Related: Nabokov's Lolita: the latest thing millennials have apparently ruined Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2019-07-10 10:03:01 UTC ]
News tagged with: #including books #finished writing #love affair #older man ##metoo #jonathan cape

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Are millennials really driving ‘cancel culture’ - or is it their overcautious critics?'


RCUK 'learns lessons' from HoL criticism

Research Councils UK has said it has "learned lessons" after being accused of an "... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-02-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Fiercest Book Critic of 2012? Camilla Long Had The Year’s Sharpest Hatchet

The Guardian called it: "Camilla Long’s comprehensive shredding of Rachel Cusk’s memoir of her divorce, Aftermath has won her the Hatchet Job of the Year award.” Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-02-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #guardian called #rachel cusk #hatchet job


Social Analytics: What to Measure and How to Drive Growth

Measuring social traffic should not be confused with engagement—driving a reader to a website is a long way from having them actually interact in a meaningful way with a brand’s content. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2013-01-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #drive growth


Closures and cancellations as snow hits trade

Freezing temperatures and a swathe of snow across the UK has hit the high street, with some... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-01-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #high street


Sony’s 20p offer drives ‘e’

E-book sales figures from trade publishers show the huge impact price continues to have on... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-01-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Foyles launches enCounter Culture portal

Foyles has launched a new way to connect its bricks and mortar customers to its website,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-01-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


National Book Critics Circle Awards Shortlist Includes Just One Translation

Add to the growing list of prize shortlists the latest from the NBCC, which includes just a single translation: Lauren Binet's HHhH, translated by Sam Taylor. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-01-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #growing list #sam taylor


Face Up: 2012 Critics’ Choice

Every month, FOLIO: selects a small group of designers and art directors to offer critiques on visually-engaging magazine covers. The cover, after all, is the first point of entry for any magazine, retail or otherwise. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2013-01-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #small group #art directors


National Book Critics Circle announces finalists for awards

The late journalist Anthony Shadid, Los Angeles writer Reyna Grande and the novelist Zadie Smith were among the finalists announced Monday for the prestigious National Book Critics Circle Awards. The late journalist Anthony Shadid, Los Angeles writer Reyna Grande and the novelist Zadie Smith... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-01-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


A book critic's literary tour of Manhattan

New York Times critic Dwight Garner stopped at book-centered destinations throughout the Big Apple. 'I was smitten all over again,' Garner wrote after his excursion. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-12-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book critic #big apple


Cairo leg of Edinburgh World Writers Conference cancelled

The Cairo leg of the Edinburgh World Writers Conference has been cancelled due to the violent... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-12-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


'Culture of secrecy' as Croydon chooses library company

Croydon Council has chosen the private company it wants to run its 13 libraries, with John... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-11-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #private company


C4 culture editor to Pan Mac

Pan Macmillan has acquired two novels by Channel 4 News culture editor Matthew Cain, with the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-10-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pan mac #pan macmillan


Comixology Drives the E-comics Market

Comixology, a digital comics distributor and marketplace, marks its fifth anniversary this year as it emerges as the clear leader in the digital comics space. The company’s Guided View technology, a much imitated function on its Comics by Comixology app, which allows readers to read digital... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-09-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #e-comics market #mobile devices #kindle fire #including marvel #market share


Bloomberg Aims to Drive Readership with New iPad App

Bloomberg has rolled out a new magazine iPad application that offers readers exclusive content, including video and interactive graphics. The Bloomberg Markets+ iPad app brings the company’s publication to Apple’s tablet. The ap ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2012-09-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #drive readership #ipad app #including video


Donaldson warning to new culture secretary

Children's Laureate Julia Donaldson has warned that the UK is heading for a "less... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-09-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #culture secretary


Fifty Shades drives record revenues and profits for Random

The "spectacular" publishing success of the Fifty Shades trilogy has driven record half... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-08-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing success


MPA Study: Social Media Enhances Magazine Consumption, Engagement for Millennials

  In a new study produced by the MPA, the Association of Magazine Media, and research firm GfK MRI, data reveals that Millennial magazine media readers aged 18 to 34 believe that technology has improved their experience of accessing various media—including magazines. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2012-08-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #data reveals #magazine media


Feds to E-Book Settlement Critics: Haters Gonna Hate

The Department of Justice defends its deal with three big publishers it accused of price-fixing. And it previews its coming court fight with Apple. Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2012-07-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #big publishers


Driving New Revenue Through Telemarketing

B-to-b publishers are going to market with more products than ever—including their own and those of their clients. The advantage they offer, of course, is a narrow, targeted audience. The challenge they face is to avoid tapping out that audience, or allowing their marketing messages to get lost... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2012-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #direct mail