Kamila Shamsie: let’s have a year of publishing only women – a provocation

It is clear that there is a gender bias in publishing houses and the world of books. Well, enough. Why not try something radical? Make 2018 the Year of Publishing Women, in which no new titles should be by menSeveral years ago, Martin Amis chaired a literary festival panel on “The Crisis of American Fiction” with Richard Ford, Jay McInerney and Junot Díaz. I was in the audience, and halfway through the discussion leaned over to the person sitting next to me and said: “Clearly the crisis of American fiction is that there are no women in it.” It’s not just that there weren’t any women on the stage. In the entire discussion, which lasted nearly an hour, there was no mention of Toni Morrison, Marilynne Robinson, Annie Proulx, Anne Tyler, Donna Tartt, Jhumpa Lahiri or any other contemporary female writer. A single reference to Eudora Welty was the only acknowledgment that women in the US have ever had anything to do with the world of letters. Díaz, near the end of the hour, made the point that the conversation had centred on white American males, but it was too little, too late.I think of this panel when reading yet another article or survey about the gender imbalance that exists in publishing houses, in terms of reviews, top positions in publishing houses, literary prizes etc. The issue can’t of course be broken down into a story of fair-minded women versus bigoted men. Like any effective system of power – and patriarchy is, over time and space, the world’s most effective... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2015-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #anne tyler #donna tartt #jhumpa lahiri #gender imbalance #top positions #literary prizes #effective system #win prizes

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Kamila Shamsie: let’s have a year of publishing only women – a provocation'


Publishers should use authors to help fight piracy

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-05-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers losing the battle against Angry Birds

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-05-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers must change "radically' in digital age - Johnson

Written By: Bookseller Staff Publication Date: Wed, 11/05/2011 - 10:46 Publishers selling direct to readers, printers folding and more agents becoming publishers are some of the implications of digital, claims former Borders chairman Luke Johnson. read more Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-05-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Three French publishers file new lawsuit against Google

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-05-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ed Victor sets up publishing imprint

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-05-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Think short-term to stay ahead of digital change, publishers told

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-05-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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National Geographic Wins Magazine of the Year

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[ Folio Magazine | 2011-05-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Digital sales could be 15% of total next year - Hudson

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-05-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Kids sales fall for third year in a row

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-05-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The New York Times | 2011-05-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Folio Magazine | 2011-05-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Harland Simon to Upgrade the Goss HT70 press controls at Turkish Newspaper Publisher

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[ Editor & Publisher | 2011-05-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Heinemann to publish Godfather prequel

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-05-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Bookseller | 2011-05-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Publishers, AOL To Launch New Book Recommendation Site [MediaMemo]

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[ AllThingsD | 2011-05-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Notting Hill Editions to revive essay publishing

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-05-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ AllThingsD | 2011-05-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers "have nothing to fear from Hargreaves" - Vaizey

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-05-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sales slump to eight-year low in Royal Wedding week

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-05-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Starling to join Octopus Publishing Group

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-05-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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